Miami, Nov. 1 (EFE) .- On Tuesday, the American progressive organization Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) asked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to pardon Floridians convicted of simple marijuana possession following an executive order from President Joe. Biden.
In a letter signed by Andrea McChristian, director of political research for the SPLC, and Shay Farley, director of regional policy, the organization asked DeSantis to “prioritize” thanks when the State Council for Executive Clemency will reunite on December 14th. .
“With the evolution of public sentiment towards the war on drugs, the momentum towards bipartisan reforms is building in the United States, including the adoption of a constitutional amendment that legalizes medical marijuana in 2016, approved by 71% of the Florida voters, ”the letter states.
“However,” he adds, “there are people in Florida prisons and jails whose only crime is to have a small amount of marijuana in their possession.”
According to data provided by SPLC, a national civil rights NGO, Florida arrested 20,765 people and sentenced 4,202 more in 2021 for possession of marijuana, an increase of 13% and 29% respectively compared to 2020.
Andrea McChristian said it “is common sense” for the governor of Florida “to give priority to granting full pardons to Floridians with simple convictions for possession of marijuana.”
“We know these people are no threat to society and the taxpayer savings ensuring these people are no longer incarcerated is something all Floridians would appreciate,” he added.
Last October, the White House announced that President Biden will forgive anyone who has been federally convicted of marijuana possession through an executive order.
The ordinance will only affect federal convictions, of whom none are currently in prison for mere possession, although Biden will encourage governors to do the same, as most convictions for marijuana possession occur at the state level.
“Sending people to jail simply for possessing marijuana has affected too many lives and has led to people being jailed for legal behavior in many states,” Biden said in a video announcing the decision.
