Joe Biden adds cannabis decriminalization to his «plan for black America»

Without going as far as his former Democratic opponents, former Vice President Joe Biden added a modest cannabis reform proposal to support his racial justice agenda.

The presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee said he would «decriminalize cannabis use and automatically vacate all prior cannabis convictions» as part of a «Plan for Black America,» his campaign published on Monday. He also talks about broader changes in criminal justice policy, including an end to the disparity between the sexes. between crack and cocaine sentences, the repeal of mandatory minimum sentences, the abolition of the death penalty and the treatment of people convicted of minor drug-related offences in a health institution rather than in prison.

«Today, too many people are incarcerated in the United States - and too many of them are African-American,» says the plan. «To build safe and healthy communities, we must rethink who we send to prison, how we treat inmates and how we help them get the health care, education, jobs and housing they need to successfully reintegrate into society after their sentence. As president, Biden will strengthen America's commitment to justice and reform our criminal justice system.»

Advocates of drug policy reform have widely criticized Biden's record as a senator, condemning his role in drafting and promoting punitive drug laws that have contributed to mass incarceration. And his persistent opposition to legalization, a policy supported by the majority of his party's voters, particularly young people, has been a persistent source of frustration.

«Biden's plan calls for the decriminalization of cannabis and an end to all incarceration for drug abuse,» a declared Jason Ortiz, President of Minority Cannabis Business Association. «While this stands in stark contrast to the vice president's record, it is a promising sign that more modern approaches to criminal justice are being discussed and taken seriously by his campaign.»

«True equity should include the release of all cannabis prisoners, massive community investment and a legal cannabis market owned and operated primarily by people of color,» he added. «I'm not convinced Biden is there yet, but we all need to keep pushing him for the good of our communities.»