The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Babel and Walter Cronkite
  • EXCLUSIVE: Republican Reps Visit Maine Prison and Speak with Victims of Trans Inmate Despite “Tight Lipped” Officials
  • Years-Old Howland Corner Store Arson Investigation Finally Leads to Arrest
  • SCOTUS Considers Legality of Accepting Ballots After Election Day
  • Whitefield Man Arrested after Stealing from Rockland Apartment and Filling it with Skunk Essence
  • Kennebec Sheriff’s Department Busts Two 18-Year-Olds for Liquor Burglary
  • Vice President Vance Launches Federal Fraud Task Force Led by Andrew Ferguson, Promises Government-Wide Crackdown
  • ICE Arrests Congolese National During Lewiston Enforcement Operation
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Saturday, March 28
  • News
  • Commentary
  • The Blog
  • About
  • Investigations
  • Support the Maine Wire
  • Store
The Maine Wire
Home » News » News » Biden Commutes or Pardons a Slew of Criminals Guilty of Drug Related Crimes
News

Biden Commutes or Pardons a Slew of Criminals Guilty of Drug Related Crimes

Seamus OthotBy Seamus OthotDecember 24, 20233 Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

On Friday, President Joe Biden issued a general pardon for anyone who has committed crimes of possession or use of marijuana, as well as issuing another proclamation commuting the sentences of some accused of more serious drug offenses.

[RELATED: Baldacci Wants to Remove Marijuana from Criminal Code As Illegal Chinese Cannabis Invades Penobscot County…]

“I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who, on or before the date of this proclamation, committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana,” said President Biden.

Biden’s proclamation on marijuana pardons anyone who has ever committed crimes of simple possession or use of marijuana, regardless of whether the guilty party had been convicted.

It serves as an expansion of a previous proclamation from October 2022, which pardoned those accused of simple possession.

The new proclamation expands the pardon to include crimes of simple use and attempted use or possession, while also applying to anyone who has committed those crimes since last year’s pardon.

“Convictions for simple possession of marijuana have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” said Biden.

Although the majority of states have legalized marijuana, its use, possession, and distribution remain illegal on the federal level.

Biden’s pardon does not apply to people attempting to distribute marijuana, or those convicted of driving under the influence of marijuana.

[RELATED: Rachel Talbot Ross Wants to Give Money to Criminals and “Disinvested” Communities to Help Them Start Cannabis Businesses…]

Biden’s other proclamation commutes the sentences of 11 criminals convicted of serious drug offenses, such as possession with the intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine or cocaine.

The proclamation claims that the sentences of these 11 individuals were “unduly long” because they were non-violent, despite the destructive potential of the drugs they were distributing.

All eleven individuals with commuted sentences are set to be released in early 2024.

Previous ArticleForeign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land Continue to Rapidly Increase According to USDA Data
Next Article Westbrook 16-Year-Old Accused of Multiple Vehicular Burglaries, Including Theft of Firearm
Seamus Othot

Seamus Othot is a reporter for The Maine Wire. He grew up in New Hampshire, and graduated from The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, where he was able to spend his time reading the great works of Western Civilization. He can be reached at [email protected]

Latest News

EXCLUSIVE: Republican Reps Visit Maine Prison and Speak with Victims of Trans Inmate Despite “Tight Lipped” Officials

March 28, 2026

Years-Old Howland Corner Store Arson Investigation Finally Leads to Arrest

March 28, 2026

SCOTUS Considers Legality of Accepting Ballots After Election Day

March 28, 2026
0 0 votes
Article Rating
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Carl Mason
Carl Mason
2 years ago

Pandering to minorities.

0
Nathan Pitts
Nathan Pitts
2 years ago

The world wonders if Biden is going to pardon his criminal family and himself.

0
Steve L
Steve L
2 years ago

It’s all about votes, the Bidum crime family at work, they have no intention of giving up power!

0
Recent News

EXCLUSIVE: Republican Reps Visit Maine Prison and Speak with Victims of Trans Inmate Despite “Tight Lipped” Officials

March 28, 2026

Years-Old Howland Corner Store Arson Investigation Finally Leads to Arrest

March 28, 2026

SCOTUS Considers Legality of Accepting Ballots After Election Day

March 28, 2026

Whitefield Man Arrested after Stealing from Rockland Apartment and Filling it with Skunk Essence

March 27, 2026

Kennebec Sheriff’s Department Busts Two 18-Year-Olds for Liquor Burglary

March 27, 2026
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

wpDiscuz