President Joe Biden on Oct. 6 announced he will pardon every person who was convicted of possessing marijuana on a federal level and in the District of Columbia.
Biden encouraged governors to pardon people for state offenses too, and he’s ordering a review of whether marijuana should be a Schedule 1 narcotic, which is the highest classification.
Some say Biden’s steps are long overdue and a way for the president to keep a campaign promise. Yet others question the timing of the pardon, and whether the administration is trying to boost support for Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections.