Non-Violent Drug Offenses Part of Biden’s Clemency

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In a January 17, 2025, statement released from the White House (1), President Joe Biden announced he had granted clemency for over two thousand individuals with drug-related convictions. A post on X, formerly known as Twitter, displayed the full statement at 4:20am on the same day.

The statement from Biden began: “Today, I am commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses who are serving disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice. With this action, I have now issued more individual pardons and commutations than any president in U.S. history.” Also listed are the names of the 2,490 individuals receiving clemency.

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP), an nonprofit working to freeing incarcerated individuals harmed by the War on Drugs, posted a statement on the action (2).“We applaud President Biden’s commutations for those who suffered excessive sentences for drug offenses,” said Sarah Gersten, Executive Director and General Counsel at Last Prisoner Project. “This clemency signifies a recognition that we should not continue to punish individuals for outdated laws we now recognize as unjust. President Biden’s actions remind us that meaningful change is possible when people work together and listen to what is needed to provide true justice through second chances.”

The LPP also stated that the full number of individuals incarcerated for cannabis convictions was not known, but listed nine LPP constituents affected by the commutations and the length of their sentences they’d served:

• Kerry Collier served almost 14 years of a 20-year sentence with 10 years of supervision.
• Daniel Gallegos served almost 14 years of a 20-year sentence with 10 years of supervision.
• Melvin Garland served 14 years of a 22-year sentence with 8 years of supervision.
• Albert Madrid served almost 26 years of a life sentence with 5 years of supervision.
• Claudio Martinez Jr. served over 10 years of a 22-year sentence with 8 years of supervision.
• John Newton served almost 16 years of an over 24-year sentence with 8 years of supervision.
• Jose Sepulveda served over 27 years of a life sentence with 5 years of supervision.
• Robert Jason Thomas over 15 years of a 20-year sentence with 8 years of supervision.
• Leonel Villasenor served almost 22 years of a 30-year sentence with 4 years of supervision.

“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” the White House statement continued. “As Congress recognized through the Fair Sentencing Act and the First Step Act, it is time that we equalize these sentencing disparities. This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars. I am proud of my record on clemency and will continue to review additional commutations and pardons.”

In 2022, Biden announced a pardon of all prior Federal offenses related to possession of cannabis and requested all Governors to offer state-level pardons for cannabis possession (3). He also requested the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to review the scheduling of cannabis.

References

1. The White House. Statement from President Biden on Additional Clemency Actions https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/17/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-additional-clemency-actions/ (accessed Jan 17, 2025).
2. The Last Prisoner Project. President Biden Grants Clemency to Nearly 2,500 Drug War Victims in Final Days https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/president-biden-grants-clemency-to-nearly-2-500-drug-war-victims-in-final-days (accessed Jan 20, 2025).
3. L’Heureux, M. US President Joe Biden Announces Cannabis Possession Pardons at the Federal Level and Calls for a Schedule Review https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/us-president-joe-biden-announces-cannabis-possession-pardons-at-the-federal-level-and-calls-for-a-schedule-review (accessed Jan 20, 2025).