The Weldon Project and National Cannabis Roundtable Launch Cannabis Clemency Campaign
Campaign formalizes the ongoing collaboration between The Weldon Project, National Cannabis Roundtable and other partners to secure clemency for individuals convicted on federal marijuana offenses.
Washington, D.C. – The Weldon Project’s MISSION [GREEN] and The National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) today announced the launch of the Cannabis Clemency Campaign, an initiative that will encourage the Biden Administration and Congress to advance policies that would grant clemency to qualifying individuals who have been convicted on federal cannabis charges. The campaign will also facilitate collaboration with marijuana clemency experts and academics, kicking off with a marijuana clemency symposium in Washington, D.C. on July 20th.
“Through clemency, President Biden has an opportunity to deliver justice for the thousands of Americans who have been impacted by federal cannabis prohibition and punitive sentencing practices,” said Weldon Angelos, President and co-founder of The Weldon Project. “This would fulfill one of President Biden’s campaign pledges and send a powerful message about this Administration’s dedication to criminal justice reform. I’m proud to formally launch this campaign alongside the National Cannabis Roundtable, and look forward to working together to redress the harm done by federal marijuana prohibition.”
The launch of the campaign is the culmination of existing efforts by MISSION [GREEN] and NCR in conjunction with the Justice Roundtable, Arizona State University, Oklahoma Appleseed and other organizations. The Cannabis Clemency Campaign we will continue to build upon ongoing initiatives including but not limited to:
- Collaborating with experts and academics to find the best avenues to pursue criteria-based clemency applications for individuals convicted on federal marijuana offenses. Next week, the Cannabis Clemency Campaign will participate in a symposium in Washington, D.C. led by Professor Erik Luna, Amelia D. Lewis Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Lawat Arizona State University, the Justice Roundtable, and the Weldon Project’s MISSION [GREEN]. More information on participants will be provided in the coming days.
- Continue consultations and conversations with the Biden Administration to recommend the establishment a multi-factor criteria to categorically identify an individual’s qualification for clemency.
- Preparing and filing clemency applications for eligible individuals in conjunction with The Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice.
“It is unacceptable that thousands of individuals with nonviolent federal cannabis convictions continue to sit behind bars in this country,” said Saphira Galoob, Executive Director of the National Cannabis Roundtable. “Through the Cannabis Clemency Campaign, we will bring together the leading minds on cannabis and clemency so that we can accomplish swift, meaningful criminal justice reform. We look forward to working with the Biden Administration and other leaders in the cannabis reform space to ensure that President Biden fulfills his campaign promise.”
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