Biden’s Marijuana Reform Is a Step Toward Changing Lives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rachel Hooper, [email protected]

WASHINGTON – Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on President Biden’s marijuana reform announcement:

“President Biden today righted a historic wrong by pardoning all prior federal offenses for simple marijuana possession. We strongly welcome President Biden’s actions. For too long, the so-called ‘war on drugs’ has harmed communities of color, and this action addresses the deep racial inequities that have ravaged neighborhoods. But more needs to be done to repair the damage done by criminalization to our families and communities.

“Despite the legalization of marijuana in many states, the federal ban has resulted in too many arrests and prosecutions of Black and Brown people, fueling mass incarceration and the devastation of our communities. Everyone in America — regardless of race or background — has the right to live safely, provide for their families, and build the future they want. We urge Congress to pass comprehensive drug reform legislation and send it to the president’s desk.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 230 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.   

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