It was a first by any American president. US President Joe Biden spoke about marijuana in his last State of the Union Address before the 2024 polls, and outlined the need to end imprisonment for mere possession of marijuana.
The State of the Union Address (SoTU) is mostly used to outline foreign policy stand and domestic focus areas, the mention of marijuana took some by surprise.
"... Directing my Cabinet to review the federal classification of marijuana, and expunging thousands of convictions for mere possession, because no one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana," US President Joe Biden said in his address on Thursday (March 7).
The 81-year-old American President took to X too, to emphasise his stance, saying, “No one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana”.
President Biden pardoned thousands of people who were convicted of the use and simple possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia, in December 2023.
“Criminal records for marijuana use and possession have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities,” Biden said in his 2023 statement. “Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.”
Though nobody was freed from prison after the announcement, the pardons were meant to help thousands overcome obstacles to renting a home or finding a job, according to the Associated Press.
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A recent New York Times/Siena College poll said that if the polling happened in the first week of March, 48% would vote for Donald Trump, while 43% would go with Biden. The remaining 10% did not know their choices or refused to comment, the poll said.
A recently conducted nationwide Politico survey showed President Joe Biden's stance on relaxing federal regulations on marijuana has substantial support from the 18-to-25-year-old age group, a crucial group in the upcoming presidential race.
The same survey also said, 65% of voters in the 18-to-25-year bracket supported the Biden administration's plans to relax the criminalising of possession of marijuana.
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Another poll by Lake Research Partners and funded by the Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform (CCSR) indicated a substantial increase in positive sentiments towards President Joe Biden if he follows through on his promise to reschedule cannabis.
Young voters aged 18-25 supported President Biden's campaign promise of freeing America’s cannabis prisoners and decriminalising weed.
What also confirms Biden's reaching out to young voters is his aid in writing off students' loans.
President Biden's mention of marijuana in his last State of the Union Address before the polls is significant and aimed at wooing young voters as the Democrat frontrunner heads towards a close rematch with his Republican heavyweight Trump.
