The White House noted Friday, hours after President Joe Biden announced a presidential pardon for minor crimes related to this substance, that the Hispanic and black communities, as those most affected by minor federal convictions for possession of marijuana, will especially benefit from the measure.
“It is also known that too many people, especially in the Hispanic and black communities, have been affected by federal marijuana laws, just for possessing marijuana. It’s wrong, it doesn’t make sense,” he told questions from the voice of america the press secretary of the Administration, Kevin Muñoz.
The White House spokesman said that, with this decision, President Biden is asking both Republican and Democratic governors alike about the functionality of the current legislation and called the step taken on Thursday as “an unprecedented move to address marijuana.”
Faced with the possible opposition of some Republican governors, Muñoz said that it is a “bipartisan” issue and without going into more detail, he cited that some senators in Congress have supported these projects because “our marijuana laws are not working.” .
Still, the spokesman said Republicans should support Biden’s bailout plan because it contains significant support for crime-fighting police.
In a conference call on Thursday, spokesman Muñoz reported that the government estimates that 6,500 people who have minor federal charges for possession of marijuana and could benefit from a pardon.
Citing a senior White House official, Muñoz assured that “the pardon will ease the barriers to opportunity that these marijuana possession convictions have posed for years for housing, educational opportunities and employment.”
* With information from Jorge Agobián, VOA White House correspondent.
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