Biden urges cannabis law reform in historic first State of the Union address

In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden made the cannabis law reform an important point in his administration's work plan. This is the first time in history that a U.S. president has used part of his State of the Union address to promote cannabis reform.

Joe Biden's announcement and promises

During his speech, President Biden reiterated his intention to review the federal classification of the cannabis and its position on the cannabis possession stating that «no one should be imprisoned for simply using marijuana, or have it on their criminal record».

No one should be jailed just for using or possessing marijuana.

- President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2024

Joe Biden also highlighted the thousands of pardons granted for cannabis possession. Although these pardons symbolically forgive past offences, they do not solve the more general problems arising from the cannabis prohibition. Numerous people continue to be incarcerated in the United States for crimes non-violent related to cannabis possession, requiring comprehensive reform that the Chairman is calling for.

Joe Biden's emphasis on his the will to reform must also be seen under the prism of the upcoming November elections. Recent polls indicate that the president's popularity ratings have soared following his announcement of the cannabis reclassification suggesting that cannabis reform could be a decisive issue for voters in the next elections.

If the potential revaluation of cannabis as part of the Biden administration's review would be an important federal reform, fairness advocates stress the need for broader reforms. Simply reclassifying the cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) would not be enough to remedy the systemic injustices perpetuated by the cannabis prohibition. Advocates emphasize the importance of remedial measures to address damage inflicted by the war on drugs.

It remains to be seen whether the DEA, who now has the upper hand, will accept the HHS recommendation to reclassify cannabis into one of the less restrictive categories on the list of controlled substances. And while many expect an announcement to be made before the election, the timing is uncertain.