After Marijuana Pardons, Norton Calls on Biden Administration to Reverse Position on D.c. Marijuana Rider and to Support Giving D.C. Clemency Authority

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) praised President Biden for issuing pardons today for federal and District of Columbia offenses for simple possession of marijuana, but called on the Biden administration to end its support for the rider that prohibits D.C. from spending its local funds on commercializing recreational marijuana and to endorse giving D.C. the authority to grant clemency for crimes under D.C. laws. Currently, the president exercises the authority to grant clemency for D.C. crimes, though, until today, it had almost never been used in at least decades.

"I applaud the president's pardons, but his administration has actively worked to block the District of Columbia from spending its local funds on commercializing recreational marijuana, which is a shocking violation of D.C. home rule by a Democratic administration," Norton said. "Today's pardons for D.C. marijuana offenses also show that D.C. should not have to rely on the president to exercise mercy and mitigate the harms of unjust policies. D.C. should have the authority to grant clemency for D.C. crimes, like the states and territories have for crimes under their laws. The Biden administration should publicly endorse giving D.C. this authority."

The Biden administration's two budgets have proposed maintaining the rider that prohibits D.C. from commercializing recreational marijuana, even though the administration supports D.C. statehood. Last month, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed Norton's District of Columbia Home Rule Expansion Act, which would, among other things, give D.C. the exclusive authority to grant clemency for D.C. crimes.

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