Biden’s Commutations and Pardons for Drug War Victims are a Historic Step, But More is Needed, Says DPA

Washington, D.C. – Today, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 1,500 Americans convicted of a crime and issued an additional 39 pardons. These include many people convicted of drug offenses.

In response to this announcement, Maritza Perez Medina, Director of Federal Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance issued the following statement:

“President Biden’s historic actions today acknowledge what Americans have long known: that our country’s practice of doling out lengthy prison sentences to people for drug offenses has put lives at risk, broken families apart, and wasted billions of dollars. These commutations mean that 1,500 Americans will have the ability to spend the holiday season with their loved ones. But for the nearly 360,000 Americans who remain behind bars for a drug offense, and who are disproportionately low-income, Black, and/or Latino, justice is a promise that remains unfulfilled. This includes thousands of people charged with federal marijuana offenses or who are serving long federal mandatory minimum sentences due to the unfair crack-powder cocaine sentencing disparity. These are not just numbers, but real people. They are parents, grandparents, neighbors, and community leaders who deserve health and healing, not punishment.

“In the final days of Biden’s presidency, he must issue additional pardons and commutations to bring all victims of our country’s failed drug war home. But we cannot stop there. President Biden can still play a role in mitigating the harms of federal marijuana criminalization through executive action. President-Elect Trump also has a crucial role to play and must work with Congress to reduce and end the senseless incarceration of people for drug possession. The resources we save from reducing our prison population should be allocated toward strengthening our communities and investing in health services that are proven to save lives: accessible addiction treatment including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), overdose prevention services such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips, supportive and affordable housing, and good-paying jobs.

“Our elected leaders have a real opportunity to reject the failed status quo and deliver common sense reform. With over 75% of Americans agreeing that drug use should be treated as a health issue instead of a criminal problem, it’s clear that it’s time to divest from the failed drug war and invest in people.”

###

About the Drug Policy Alliance The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) addresses the harms of drug use and drug criminalization through policy solutions, organizing, and public education. We advocate for a holistic approach to drugs that prioritizes health, social supports, and community wellbeing. DPA opposes punitive approaches that destabilize people, block access to care, and drain communities of resources. We believe that the regulation of drugs should be grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights. In collaboration with other movements, we change laws, advance justice, and save lives.