President Biden’s plan to pardon marijuana convictions is a direct result of years of organizing from activists across the country. But as great as it was, the President’s 2022 announcement of the plan hasn’t resulted in anyone getting paperwork showing they’ve been pardoned – paperwork that they might need to get a job or housing. Shocking, right? That’s because pardon accessibility is a completely different issue than the presidential pen stroke of offering relief.
Five months after the announcement, the Department of Justice said that for every individual eligible for a pardon certificate, it may take up to 2.5 hours to submit “research, phone calls, and conversations with necessary personnel to attain the appropriate documentation” to receive it. That’s an unnecessary barrier to justice. Join us and our partners to demand Attorney General Merrick Garland automate the pardon system to ensure people receive access and relief. Add your name to the joint petition now!
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.”
States and localities that have legalized marijuana across the country have already begun automatically expunging records. Those individuals harmed by prohibition should not be required to face a higher burden of applications and research in order to receive the pardons promised by President Biden.
We will deliver these petitions by hand to the Department of Justice’s doorstep on April 20th (4/20). Together, we can make sure our movement is too big to ignore.
Thank you for your action and persistence.
In solidarity,
Justin
Justin Strekal
Founding Organizer
BOWL PAC
Leave a Reply