Cannabis plants. Biden’s proclamation granting pardons to all people convicted of “simple marijuana possession” under federal and District of Columbia law is a step in the right direction according to Reason’s C.J. Ciaramella. The proclamation expands pardons to certain offenders convicted of possession on federal lands and also covers anyone who committed the offenses in the fourteen months since Biden’s previous pardons. Unlike last year’s pardons, this year’s also covers people who committed the DC offense of “attempted simple possession of marijuana.” As Ciaramella notes, the new proclamation expands pardons to certain offenders convicted of possession on federal lands. The pardons will benefit recipients in various ways, but likely won’t free anyone from prison. A recent Gallup poll shows 70% public support for marijuana legalization and Biden could have done much more by pushing for the abolishment of federal laws banning possession and distribution of marijuana, especially during his first two years in office when Democrats had control of both houses of Congress. Biden’s distinction between possession and distribution makes little sense and it’s unjust to exclude offenders who aren’t US citizens or permanent residents from the scope of the pardons. Additionally, Biden also pardoned 11 people serving disproportionately long sentences for various other drug offenses.