Thousands of people convicted of nonviolent cannabis crimes are doing time in federal prisons. Edwin Rubis is a prime example having served 27 years so far on a 40 year sentence he was dealt in the 1990s. For Rubis, his only hope rests with a presidential clemency grant.
It is time for President Biden to act. LOS ANGELES , Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 24th, 2024 , the Biden Administration released a statement regarding presidential pardons that saw clemency granted to 11 individuals, five of whom were incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses .
The final line of that statement reads, "While today's announcement marks important and continued progress, my Administration will continue to review clemency petitions and deliver reforms in a manner that advances equal justice, supports rehabilitation and reentry, and provides meaningful second chances." This echoes the opening line of, "America is a Nation founded on the promise of second chances." The fact remains that President Biden still has not released a single cannabis prisoner via commutation.
Not one. It also echos recently released recordings from meetings in the Nixon White House in 1973 where the president says, "Penalties should be commensurate with the crime," regarding cannabis enforcement, calling a 30-year sentence in such a case "ridiculous." The fact remains that this private revelation doesn't match up with the public legislation that created the War on Drugs and the Controlled Substances Act.
One more.