Biden Reaffirms His Promise On Cannabis During Remarks On Midterm Election, What Does This Actually Mean?

President Joe Biden delivered remarks about the 2022 midterm election on Tuesday, making new promises and reaffirming old ones. His comments came some two weeks after he announced a plan to pardon all prior federal offenses of simple cannabis possession.

“I’m keeping my promise that no one should be in jail merely for using or possessing marijuana,” the President said. “You should not be in jail.” 

The audience welcomed this with a round of applause.

It is important to note that even though Biden issued cannabis pardons, they only benefit some 6,500 Americans charged on the federal level, while at least 40,000 people convicted at the state level remain unaffected unless all state governors take Biden’s suggestion and do the same. 

What are the chances that all governors will follow Biden’s recommendation?

Slim, it seems. Several have already declined. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, for example, made it clear that he will not issue pardons in the Lone Star State. 

“Texas is not in the habit of taking criminal justice advice from the leader of the defund police party and someone who has overseen a criminal justice system run amuck with cashless bail and a revolving door for violent criminals,” stated Renae Eze, Abbott’s spokesperson. “The Governor of Texas can only pardon individuals who have been through the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles system with a recommendation for pardon."

Abbott is not alone. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb recently said no to marijuana pardons. 

Is Anything Else In The Works?

So, if no one should be in jail for cannabis and Biden intends to keep his promise, does he have another plan?

According to Tuesday’s statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the President, “laid out our plan.”

“I don’t have any more events to lay out about specific speeches or comments about marijuana, but you heard directly from the president about what his policy is,” Jean-Pierre said. “And he kept his promise, his commitment that he made during the campaign.”

What did he promise during his 2020 presidential campaign?

Biden repeatedly said that he wanted to see marijuana decriminalization as well as automatic expungement of prior cannabis convictions. 

For these past two years he did nothing of the sort, until now.

The question is: Are there broader reforms in the works, or was this recent pardoning just a game plan ahead of midterm elections? 

Photo: Benzinga Edit; Source: Shutterstock