Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

News Advisory

Updated Analysis Relating to Executive Action to Pardon
Federal Convictions for Simple Possession of Marijuana

WASHINGTON, DC ― Last week, President Biden announced his intention to pardon current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents convicted of simple possession of marijuana, directing the Attorney General to develop an administrative process for the issuance of certificates of pardon to eligible individuals.

On Friday, the Sentencing Commission released an analysis relating to President Biden's executive action. An update to that analysis can be found at the link below, providing additional information on demographics and geographic distribution.

The analysis below provides data relating to offenders sentenced between fiscal year 1992 and fiscal year 2021 convicted of at least one count of simple possession involving marijuana (21 U.S.C. § 844).

Download PDF

# # #

The United States Sentencing Commission, an independent agency in the judicial branch of the federal government, was organized in 1985 to develop a national sentencing policy for the federal courts. The resulting sentencing guidelines provide structure for the courts’ sentencing discretion to help ensure that similar offenders who commit similar offenses receive similar sentences.