Friend,

Non-violent offenses should have non-violent consequences.

Last year, President Biden took a bold step for justice and pardoned all those who were charged for marijuana possession under federal law¹. Now, we need to actually implement that pardon. ADD YOUR NAME to call upon the Department of Justice to proactively and automatically issue pardon certificates to all those who qualify.

Justice should never be obstructed by a wall of unending paperwork. Right now, that’s exactly what’s happening! People who were previously charged with the crime of possessing marijuana must complete a long certificate process, with documentation that many may no longer have. Let the justice department know: we must implement President Biden’s pardon NOW, expunge the records of those charged with marijuana possession, and allow these individuals to put back on track lives that never should have been derailed.

As President Biden said, “too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.” Requiring the pardoned to jump through bureaucratic hoops when the law has already forgiven them is not just unnecessary but unjust. Fortunately, this is something we can change! Tell the Department of Justice: automate pardons for possessions of cannabis, and provide necessary relief for the victims of the war on drugs.  

Jocelyn Macurdy Keatts
Washington Director, act.tv

1. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/us/politics/biden-marijuana-pardon.html