Other Cities Considering Following San Francisco's Lead in Clearing Marijuana Convictions
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón says three other California cities reached out to his office after he announced this week the city is wiping out Marijuana convictions dating back to 1975. Cheddar's Baker Machado spoke with Gascón about why he felt it was so important to clear these convictions.
"We've had now three different jurisdictions that have approached me, and my office this morning," said Gascón. "People in California are tired of the war on drugs, they are tired of the war on marijuana."
With San Francisco's move more than 3,000 misdemeanor convictions will be dismissed, and sealed automatically. Nearly 5,000 felony marijuana convictions will be reviewed for potential reduction, and resentencing said Gascón.
"We wanted to provide immediate relief for our community," said Gascón. "We are very concerned about the conversation at the national level where we have our Attorney General talking about marijuana being an existential threat to the American way of life."
President Joe Biden has met with new House Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House. Johnson was joined by Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries as they discussed Biden's request for nearly $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other national security needs.
The new leader of one of the chambers of Congress that will certify the winner of next year's presidential election helped spearhead the attempt to overturn the last one, raising alarms that Republicans could try to subvert the will of the voters if they remain in power despite safeguards enacted after the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
