Our Statement on President Biden’s Recent Cannabis Announcement

Though the reforms are far short of what is needed, we welcome President Biden's use of the presidential bully pulpit to raise important cannabis-related issues, it is long overdue. The steps he announced on Thursday, October 6, 2022, include plans to pardon people with federal convictions for simple possession, to urge governors to do the same in their states, and to review the federal scheduling of cannabis.

President Biden’s statement on cannabis reform from October 6, 2022.

Though these steps fall short of the restorative justice measures needed to bring redress from cannabis prohibition, which is still occurring throughout the country, even in some states that have legalized it, we commend the president for joining the national cannabis conversation and for using his unique position to help embolden national and state-level efforts to push for greater fairness.

We believe all criminal records for any amount of cannabis sales, distribution, and manufacturing, should be removed automatically and cost-free. Vermont passed Act 167 in 2020 in response to local grassroots outrage that Act 164 did not include any restorative justice measures. Act 167 automatically expunged up to 2-ounces and 3-mature plants after paying court surcharges. That policy falls short, especially for those in the industry where it's common to find non-violent criminal records with several pounds of possession and growing hundreds of plants.

In light of President Biden's recent announcement, we call on Vermont legislators to revisit Act 167 in 2023 and to include any amount of cannabis sales, distribution and manufacturing to be eligible for automatic expungement and to do so without requiring individuals to pay back their outstanding court fees.