Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Ronin22222 t1_jawqfkd wrote

Most weed convictions are at the state level, but ok

33

bubleve t1_jaxlk2k wrote

Yes, but that has to be done at the state level or as an act of Congress. This affects about 6,500 people. This is about all the Biden administration can do for past convictions.

12

speaks_truth_2_kiwis t1_jaydnam wrote

>Yes, but that has to be done at the state level or as an act of Congress. This affects about 6,500 people. This is about all the Biden administration can do for past convictions.

Why can't they expunge records?

That would provide concrete help to those 6500 people.

−2

bubleve t1_jayjs4l wrote

They pardoned federal crimes. Your statement was about the state level so that is what I responded to.

It is unclear to me if the president has those powers, pretty sure that has to be Congress.

> ...As these opinions confirm, a presidential pardon removes, either conditionally or unconditionally, the punitive legal consequences that would otherwise flow from conviction for the pardoned offense. A pardon, however, does not erase the conviction as a historical fact or justify the fiction that the pardoned individual did not engage in criminal conduct. A pardon, therefore, does not by its own force expunge judicial or administrative records of the conviction or underlying offense.

https://www.justice.gov/file/451106/download

4

speaks_truth_2_kiwis t1_jayrzsf wrote

> They pardoned federal crimes. Your statement was about the state level so that is what I responded to.

You're confusing me with another poster.

> It is unclear to me if the president has those powers, pretty sure that has to be Congress.

That seems to be true.

In any case. the Biden admin is implying that this action does more than it actually does. Disinforming the public and taking credit for more than he actually did.

> “The President’s pardon lifts barriers to housing, employment and educational opportunities for thousands of people with those prior convictions,”

Maybe.

If it's up to the federal government (federal jobs and such), this may work. Of course, the Biden admin fired a bunch of people for mj early on, didn't they?

And who knows what future administrations might do.

But a pardon doesn't expunge a conviction from your record.

And an employer can still absolutely refuse to hire a pardoned mj convict.

And a landlord can still absolutely refuse housing.

No one has been or will be released from prison.

The best possible result is a certificate saying you've been pardoned by Joe Biden. Which may actually mean something to some relevant people. Or it may not.

0