Pardons are still a hot topic after President Joe Biden announced on Oct. 6 that he would be pardoning citizens who have federal convictions for cannabis, and asked that state governors do the same to provide relief for people in their regions. However, Indiana Gov. Holcomb recently stated that he would not be pardoning simple cannabis convictions.
“The president should work with Congress, not around them, to discuss changes to the law federally, especially if he is requesting governors to overturn the work local prosecutors have done by simply enforcing the law,” Holcomb said, according to ABC57. “Until these federal law changes occur, I can’t in good conscience consider issuing blanket pardons for all such offenders.”
Holcomb added that his state already offers expungement programs. “What Indiana has done, is act proactively, not reactively, by creating an opportunity for those who have maintained a clean record since a conviction of simple marijuana possession and a number of lower-level offenses, to apply for—and receive—an expungement which seals their record,” Holcomb said.
However he did confirm that many people who currently hold cannabis convictions on their record deserve to have an opportunity to have it removed. “I do agree that many of these offenses should not serve as a life sentence after an individual has served their time,” Holcomb added. “Expunged convictions cannot be disclosed to employers, to those who grant licenses, or when seeking housing.”
At a luncheon on Oct. 12, Holcomb shared his opinions on favoring expungement over pardons. “If you are busted for simple possession of marijuana and stay clean for a number of years, five years, then you can pursue expungement. That is never disclosed and that will never be in the way. If you do the crime and pay the time, then you can move on,” Holcomb said, adding that he does not believe cannabis should be in the same Schedule category as substances such as heroin or morphine. “But that’s Congress’s job.”
In December 2021, Holcomb began ramping up for the legislative session which began in January 2022. Although at the time, the Indiana Democratic Party stated that adult-use cannabis legalization was a top priority, Holcomb explained his support for medical access instead. “The law that needs to change is the federal law,” said Holcomb in December 2021.
News outlet WSBT asked Indiana legislators about Biden’s recent pardons, and many were supportive, but leaned toward federal descheduling. “I think this does reveal that legalization is inevitable in our future and whether or not Indiana wants to set that up at the state level or wait for the federal government to do that,” said Rep. Maureen Bauer. “So, for us, it’s still [a] schedule one drug. And I don’t see the state of Indiana changing the legalization of the drug until federally it’s descheduled,” added Sen. Mike Bohacek.
Possession of cannabis is a misdemeanor in Indiana, as of 2014. Currently, the state of Indiana has not legalized adult-use or medical cannabis. According to The Indiana Lawyer, over 94,000 people were charged with a cannabis possession misdemeanor between 2018-2021.
A pardon isn’t enough to release people from prison, partially because many people’s sentences are more complicated. According to Marion County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mitch Gore as of Oct. 13, the Indianapolis Adult Detention Center only had one inmate who was convicted for cannabis possession, while 320 others were convicted both because of possession as well as other non-cannabis related charges.
Allen County Sheriff’s Office Captain Steve Stone also confirmed that not very many people could be released immediately. “It would be a very, very low number. We wouldn’t even arrest you because you’d be out before we were even done doing the paperwork,” Stone said.
Indiana nuff said 💸
Please read 844a of U.S. Code Title 21, type 844a in any search engine. Who knew that certain schedule 1 drugs are a fine only offence under federal law? Obviously, no one. It is fine only because in 844a(b) the word “or” is used meaning rather than criminal charges. You can be fined twice before criminal charges and in your fine hearings you are giving special rights of criminal defense including the beyond a reasonable doubt standard. I big upgrade in rights are given. So, which of the 8 drugs listed could be included? Cannabis is designated for lenient treatment in 841 paragraph (4) a gift for no renumeration will get probation. Also, the person receiving the gift faces up to one year, this is a Weems vs U.S. violation of “graduated and proportioned”. The violation disappears when 844a is recognized. Only facts are presented from source documents. The States violate Federal rights when they do not offer a fine only for cannabis in personal possession amounts. Stare decisis is not equal to source documents, it is an interpretation of them.
yeah cause Indiana a shithole with a “person in charge of it (Holcomb)” who is a giant hypocritical piece of horse shit and as long as we keep putting dicksnot douchebags like him in office this is the kinda bullshit we gonna put up with..do yourself all a favor and Google some of the shit Holcomb did when he was head of the Republican Party in Indiana..this fuckface is far from the type of person who should be making the call on what is and isn’t criminal..but as long as we got all these “ho down, hey now, hey there, cousin fucking Motherfuckers” ruling the vote in Indiana we stuck..there enough Dems in just my area The Region, South Bend, Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Evansville alone to turn Indiana blue..we did in 2008 for Obama and for a long time had blue governors..then these Republicans got in and took control by guess what..CHEATING..they Gerrymander to rig elections..the exact same thing they constantly accuse us of now..only the guilty and their guilty conscious are the ones to accuse