simple question about the Biden weed pardon

K. President can pardon anyone convicted of a crime, for any reason, at any time.

If they get convicted next week, he can pardon one second after conviction.

 

it only effects federal cases, State Governors would have to pardon State cases

 

the bigger thing Biden is doing is reviewing the DEA stance on Marijuana

they are violating their own rules, and they expect the people to follow their rules

https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling

"
Schedule I

Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote.
"

 

That is the real issue that needs to be addressed. How marijuana wound up as a Schedule I drug is as political and racially motivated law as any. The fact that cocaine, fentanyl, Adderall, and oxycontin are Schedule II, and are prescribed, hasn't curbed their abuse one bit.

Marijuana, even though its use falls fairly evenly between racial and ethnic groups, has been consistently used as a means of oppressing blacks. It's time to remove that phony excuse of Schedule I.

 

Prez pardons only work for federal convictions. Biden is going around trying to get governors to pardon people at the state level, as I understand it. Not sure how that works.

Most states where it is legal at the state level, the feds won't bother charging anyone, as I understand it. They might if there is a black market operation who goes on TV and brags about his operation.

 

From where did you get that number? There are 149 currently in prison for simple possession, and, likely they have other convictions that will keep them there.

 

You could say that about anything good deed any politician does.

That is a viewpoint consistent with that of your typical cynic.

I reject cynicism, nihilism, etc.

 

It's been corrected. That's the number that should have their record expunged.

 

What are you talking about?

He has the right to pardon any federal conviction. Sure, he might have pissed off a few prosecutors, similar to how Trump made a few prosecutors mad who put forth a lot of effort to convict Roger Stone and Paul Manafort, but that's the power of the pardon, it's in the constitution, not much we can do about it. However, some legal scholars believe that a pardon can be challenged if they are believed to be done corruptly, such as quid pro quo pardons.

And, FYI, The term is 'de facto'. And, since a 'de facto law' is an oxymoron, the question of it's constitutionality becomes a moot point.

 

Pardon only applies to the person pardoned, and by that measure, cannot invalidate a federal law.

NO evidence to date has been presented sufficient to warrant prosecution of Biden.

 

he has the power to pardon anyone he wants, just like Trump did

 

Yes and only for that crime. With those who have a second or third offense, they can have other offenses as well, which will not be pardoned.

 

lol - you're making a lot of really laughable assumptions about me, my upbringing, and my race. But *I* am not the topic of this thread, so I'll not dignify your race-card tripe with response.

The vast majority of people federally convicted of simple possession over the last 30 years were also charged with other, more serious crimes. No one is currently in federal prison solely for simple possession. Biden's token gesture here is commendable, but really benefits almost no one in any meaningful way, other than politically. His directive to have the scheduling of marijuana reviewed is commendable as well, but I don't believe they will be able to overcome the big pharma lobby and the powerful DEA bureaucracy to have marijuana removed, rescheduled or decriminalized. I hope I'm wrong, but I probably won't be.

 

Texas has two States bordering it that have legalized marijuana. Texans take road trips to these vacation wonderlands to load up and bring back souvenirs of the trip which they will then sell so that others can share the fun. Some get caught but nobody seems to really want to lock them up. Sometimes they will languish in county jails for 2+ years before the court will carry out the sentence of 5 or 6. County time counting off double they will then be eligible for immediate parole.

Marijuana is not an important crime. Don't get me wrong, I hate it, but the times they are a changing.

 

Sorry you missed the point then.

 

Only time will tell. I concur with your general opinion, about Big Pharma's power, but disagree with the notion that this insures it will always get its way, forever. Witness the recently passed law, allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices, which a Big Pharma consortium had actively sponsored ads, opposing. Yet, it is hard to consider the overall U.S. policy, regarding Big Pharma, a loss for them, as they had been able to secure a provision in law, for this long, preventing Medicare employing the capitalist principle, of using its buying power, to negotiate a better price.

The same goes for marijuana. Pharma, in association with other interests, have had a good, long run, keeping this as a Schedule 1, controlled substance. But the weight of public opinion, has finally begun to displace that resistance, and tip this boulder. Granted, if the Republicans were to get back both chambers of Congress, and the Presidency, all together, they would pull the plug on this. But it seems that resistance is now fighting against the rising tide. Even if Republicans took back both chambers of Congress in the midterms-- and I frankly still doubt, they will win the Senate-- they would not have the numbers to sustain a Biden veto, when they tried to negate this. What would happen, of course, is they would provoke a standoff with the President, by including the killing of Medicare's ability to negotiate, along with the rest of the budget, forcing Biden to veto the entire spending bill.

But if Republicans don't get to take a crack at this, before 2025, and people have begun seeing benefits to the legislation (including a reduction in the growth of our national Medicare spending) that will possibly give some Republicans pause, about defying what will be the obvious will of the people, even of the Republican civilians. That would leave it up to the Supreme Court, to try contort the Constitution, or existing law, to overrule Medicare's new ability to negotiate.

 

So, why agree with the comment but then launch in a deflecting ad hom? it doesn't seem to be honest. Biden is the point here, Trump hasn't been in office for almost 2 years now.

 

Are you new here What's a thread on PF without a Trump derail?

Answer:
A thread not posted yet

 

Too true... Wait, what was that noise?? Hunter stepped on a twig??

 

Usually pardons are for individuals granted on an individual basis. Pardoning anyone charged with a particular crime is new.

 

Thats the claim regarding enforcement of all criminal laws. They disproportionally impact blacks and therefore are deemed racist. Blacks in Minnesota are 10% of the population and yet are 76% of the murderers. Do we pardon murderers in the name of equity?

 

Sorry, that is a ridiculous comparison.

We have data for well over 40 years of this "war on drugs" nonsense, and blacks are disproportionately arrested and cited on petty marijuana possession charges. It gives cops a reason to look for other charges too.

In CA, we actually have jaywalking laws. Next year they are coming off the books, and the reason for this change is that minorities have been disproportionately cited for jaywalking. I have seen this firsthand. So don't gimme that crap.

 

Not to mention, it's a perfect example of the racism faced by this person, or did you forget already?

 

There are not 6500 people in federal prison for pot possession. That is the number of convictions since the 1990's. There are just over 200 in federal prison and those were plea downs from more serious charges. States do not imprison people for simple possession either. Haven't for years he is once again leading from behind.

This was a vote grab.

 

And here with a blanket pardon for a specific law he is sending the signal federal law enforcement that if in the future you arrest and convict someone for pot possession I will void it with a pardon. Not based on the person but based on a law he opposes. What does his oath of office say about enforcing the laws as passed by the Congress?