Today as part of #SecondChanceMonth, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made a statement granting executive clemency to 78 individuals, consisting of three pardons and 75 commutations of people who are serving long sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. Of those, only nine individuals being granted clemency are currently serving a sentence for marijuana, leaving thousands of people incarcerated for cannabis still languishing behind bars. This falls short of Biden's campaign promise of mass pardons and record clearance for people impacted by marijuana criminalization at the federal level.

People like Last Prisoner Project (LPP) constituents Edwin Rubis, Mohamed Taher, and Rafael Hernandez-Carrillo cannot wait any longer for their freedom to be restored. While we are hopeful this is the start of more impactful action, we need categorical clemency with an expedited process that doesn't put the financial and procedural burden of bureaucracy on the individual as they seek release. Thus, we are encouraging supporters to add their voice to our A Time to Heal campaign and tell President Biden to free all people federally imprisoned for cannabis.

In addition to the clemency grants, President Biden announced a number of reentry initiatives being funded by the administration's second chance proposal. These reentry programs and services are aimed at giving second chances to those previously incarcerated. These actions include: a new collaboration between the Department of Justice and the Department of Labor to provide job training; new grants for workforce development programs; greater opportunities to serve in federal government; expanded access to capital for people with convictions trying to start a small business; improved reentry services for veterans; and more support for health care, housing, and educational opportunities.

As we push for federal cannabis clemency, LPP is optimistic about these new reentry efforts and the appointment of the new pardon attorney, Elizabeth (Liz) G. Oyer, a former public defender. For more information on the reentry resources that LPP currently offers, please visit our reentry webpage here.