The mass pardon for low-level marijuana offenders that President Joe Biden announced last week will affect nearly 7,000 U.S. citizens convicted of simple possession under federal law during the last few decades, according to an updated analysis that the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) published yesterday. Within that group, 6,577 cases involved just marijuana, while 415 also involved other drugs, which are not covered by Biden's proclamation.
An additional 1,132 convictions, including 1,122 marijuana-only cases, involved noncitizens who were legally living in the United States. Within that group, Biden's proclamation is limited to "lawful permanent residents."
