A group of more than 150 celebrities, athletes, advocates, politicians, law enforcement, and academics signed a letter to President Biden. Together, they urged Biden to issue mass pardons for those with non-violent cannabis convictions. 

“The harms of incarceration are obvious, but the pains of federal marijuana convictions transcend prison walls, making it more difficult for someone to get a job, access affordable housing, and receive an education,” the letter says. “A conviction can forever limit an individual’s constitutional rights and can put the American dream further out of reach for an entire family.”

“Relief from the federal war on marijuana would not only be just, it would also be good policy by advancing public safety and economic prosperity. A general pardon poses a low risk to the American public by expunging records and releasing the last remaining prisoners of federal marijuana prohibition. Those who will have their sentences commuted comprise a small percentage of the federal prison population and are incarcerated only for non-violent marijuana offenses. All other beneficiaries of a categorical pardon represent an even lower risk, since these people are already living peacefully among their neighbors,” the letter concludes. 

Some notable celebrities who signed the letter include Drake, Killer Mike, Meek Mill, Deion Sanders, and Kevin Garnett.

Rapper Ralo

One such inmate the above artists are advocating for is Rapper Ralo. He is currently serving an eight year sentence for a nonviolent cannabis conviction. Rapper Ralo has applied for a pardon before and has been denied. This isn’t the first time artists like Drake and Killer Mike have advocated for Rapper Ralo’s pardon.  Back in February, Biden received a similar letter from artists and lawmakers requesting the complete pardon for nonviolent cannabis convicts.

Rapper Ralo spoke about the potential of a conviction pardon. “I am hopeful that Joe Biden will honor his campaign promise and grant us clemency… We can return home to our families and communities.”

Efforts

Most recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reached out to around 1,000 home confinement inmates to apply for clemency. These inmates received home confinement orders April 2020 to help combat the spread of Covid-19. Now, some inmates feel threatened to go back. However, with this recent movement from the DOJ, mass pardons may come sooner than expected. According to activists, it can’t come fast enough.

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