The dust is settling from the news of last week’s announcement from President Biden regarding federal marijuana reform. For many Americans - especially cannabis advocates - it was a historic moment. However, his announcement fell short of what so many felt could have been truly beneficial for so many Americans still serving unfair sentences for nonviolent cannabis charges. Still, in what is one of the biggest steps toward federal decriminalization by any president, Biden declared three areas of action for the failed approach to the war on cannabis.

The three actions: 

1. The pardoning of prior federal offenses for the simple possession of marijuana (retroactively to the year 1992).  

2. The call for all governors to follow suit with regard to state possession offenses.

3. The exploration of rescheduling or de-scheduling cannabis. 

As could be expected, cannabis industry professionals and advocates had a lot to say about the statements. Some celebrated the effort, while others met it with harsh criticism for not being impactful enough. We’ve collected the statements and reactions, ranging from joy to frustration, of nine cannabis industry professionals. Check them out below.

Kari Boiter, President of Women’s Organization of National Prohibition Reform and Lifelong  Cannabis Advocate

“It’s a BIG step in the right direction, but President Joe Biden could stand to take a GIANT leap forward when it comes to marijuana prohibition. Make no mistake, we applaud today’s news about Presidential Pardons for around 6,500 people who have been convicted of federal charges for simple marijuana possession. It’s phenomenal to see retroactive application that extends back almost three decades to the early ‘90s. BUT. It’s a victory that rings hollow while state-legal medical marijuana providers like Luke Scarmazzo remain behind bars in federal prison, separated from his beloved daughter for nearly two of those three decades.

As a chief architect of mass incarceration, President Biden has the responsibility to right his wrongs, not just for marijuana possession, but for all non-violent drug offenses. Joe Biden has the power to issue an Executive Order to remove marijuana from the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, ending ALL criminal penalties on the federal level in one fell swoop — and he should use it. He also has the ability to grant amnesty with the single stroke of a pen for ALL non-violent marijuana crimes on the federal level, releasing anyone and everyone who is still serving time in federal prison. Relief is long overdue for the families who have been destroyed and dehumanized in the War on Drugs.

Vice President Kamala Harris is equally culpable after having spent years as a U.S. Attorney in California making a career of prosecuting non-violent drug offenders. If anyone can and should take a BIG, BOLD SWIPE at the brick wall of prohibition and mass incarceration, it’s Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. For added perspective, the U.S. Sentencing Commission reports 92 people were sentenced on federal marijuana possession charges in 2017. That’s out of nearly 20,000 drug convictions that year. A teardrop in a sea of injustice. We believe President Biden can do better. And we are calling on his administration to do just that. Decriminalize now, and grant amnesty yesterday. It’s time.”

Steven Philpott Jr. - Environmental Biology Researcher and CEO of Anzisha Consulting

“Our president called for a review of the DEA Schedule I status...I'll make it easy for everyone in politics with zero cannabis experience who is currently building a campaign at this moment. Cannabis is regulated by the DEA as having ‘no currently accepted medical uses,’ similar to heroin. Cannabis should be regulated like corn, wheat, barley, and soy. These are the top crops produced in the United States. They're all 100 percent legal and generally regarded as safe for human consumption. Raw, living, sexually mature, female cannabis plants pose absolutely no threat to public health and safety, as the molecules that bind to the human endocannabinoid system are not yet in their active state.

Each of the former crops, when intentionally processed by humans, can be altered into a form that can be consumed as a recreational adult-use intoxicant called alcohol, yet the crop is regulated separately from the products. Cannabis, when harvested, decarboxylated, and processed can become a recreational impairment agent...but unlike the other crops’ adult use products, cannabis is also used as FDA-approved medicine for children.

Alcohol can be marketed almost anywhere and can be bought almost everywhere. Over three million people die per year as a result of alcohol consumption, yet the CDC reports that none have died from direct cannabis consumption. There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption, yet the FDA has already approved multiple cannabis drugs for treatment of rare diseases like childhood epilepsy. There's the review of the DEA Schedule I status. It contradicts the FDA approvals and NIH patent. Let's stop having public meetings to announce private meetings on public health matters.”

Brett Puffenbarger - MA, CCCE and VP of Marketing at Green Check Verified

“Hey cannabis industry... Can we pump the breaks on the hype train for a few seconds? President Biden's announcement yesterday is amazing news and a great first step… Freeing even one cannabis prisoner is cause for celebration… But are we actually looking at the details here before we go bananas? Biden's announcement had three separate parts... each with varying degrees of impact.

Part One: Freeing federal cannabis criminals. This on the surface is amazing...but it's also a drop in the bucket. Of the 40k+ people incarcerated for petty cannabis crimes only about 6500 are federal in nature. The rest are state level crimes. Regardless of numbers (we will get to the other 35,000ish people in a second)... Pardons are great and all but it's missing a crucial piece. EXPUNGEMENT. Freedom is only so free if you're still followed by a shadow at every turn. Prisons can be more than just four walls and some bars.

Part Two: Encouraging governors to do the same… This is, in and of itself, a smart move politically but doesn't actually do anything. The success of this request is predicated on the president's influence and political capital. Something he doesn't have a ton of. It's almost like this move was held off on until right before the midterms (when it was promised in the first 100 days). Pro-cannabis governors will make moves and anti-cannabis ones will fight it tooth and nail... This sounds great on the surface but I'm skeptical of it being just some well-timed PR and political theater. Fingers crossed at least a few governors listen...

Part Three: Asking for the review of the current scheduling of cannabis… This seems to be the one people are most excited for. Re- or de-scheduling would be a game changer for all of us. Period. It's a path towards true legalization. It's a step in the direction of allowing bigger money and more major corporations to come play in the cannabis sandbox. It's a move that will remove a massive set of barriers for any and every operator in cannabis (crossing state lines alone is mind boggling for its potential effects on the industry). My issue here is that this could have been done already via executive order (at least theoretically). This seems like Biden toeing the line but refusing to cross it. Like he is acting like he wants it but only if he isn't the one who pulls the trigger. I guess where I'm going with all of this is that I understand being excited...I just want to ensure we are thinking this through before we start planning a parade.

Is this major news? 100%. Is this the end of the fight? Definitely not! Is this all it's being made up to be? Only time will tell… What does everyone else think? Am I being a stick in the mud or is this really being blown up as more than it is? Just so I know I've said it… This is amazing news. I'll take the small win. Let's just not make it out to be the best thing since sliced bread, shall we?”

Max Simon - CEO of Green Flower

“I feel like the cannabis industry is so accustomed to bad news/no progress that we’ve forgotten how to respond to good news/useful progress. I say that because Biden’s announcement has been met with a sizable amount of hate and skepticism, which I think is a shame. Because, while I agree that Biden’s announcement is not nearly as much/as far as anyone would like, it’s also a PHENOMENAL step that a sitting U.S. president is actually moving the needle forward on cannabis reform. This has not happened, well, EVER, so it definitely feels like a moment to acknowledge.

Plus let’s not forget a few things:

1. He is advocating for all state senators to follow in his footsteps. 

2. He is asking for a formal process to review the scheduling of cannabis. 

3. This should give a boost to the passage of SAFE, which will have MASSIVELY positive repercussions for our industry. 

So YES, we would all like to see cannabis fully legalized and the nonsensical restrictions taken away. But we’re not there yet, and thus I am taking this moment to acknowledge what a great step forward this is. Progress is progress, and we can never let perfect be the enemy of good.” 

Kassia Graham - Director, Community & Strategy, Cannaclusive

“President Biden's move to grant pardons to those with low-level cannabis federal offenses, and to review scheduling of the plant, is welcome, though overdue. It signals the U.S. is moving toward ending cannabis prohibition. However, myself and others won't be celebrating until we see the pardons and scheduling review in action. And it's important to note people will still be in jail for cannabis, as the pardon doesn't cover all offenders.”

Jigar Patel - Co-Founder & CEO of NorCal Cannabis

“While this is a great first step, I believe more political pressure should be applied, and is needed in order to get President Biden to finally stand on the right side of history. This includes calling on him to immediately reinstate the Obama-era Department of Justice memos and guidance, enabling the Department of Veterans Affairs to write cannabis recommendations and changing the rules at Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Education, so that the rights of patients and consumers who live in areas where cannabis is currently state-legal are protected. 

The latter doesn’t even require Congress to act. Frankly, it is beyond disappointing that President Biden has not done more to protect some of the most vulnerable veterans, patients, students, and disenfranchised Americans, who have been unfairly treated and targeted for decades. While we commend President Biden on catching up with where two-thirds of Americans have been – there is a lot of work yet to be done.”

Mary Pryor - Co-Founder of Cannaclusive and Board Member of The Parent Company's Social Equity Fund

“This is a major step forward! Now it’s time to truly dive into restorative harm repair and make sure that access to careers in cannabis or any field is possible for all of those who will be pardoned. And while this milestone is indeed a major victory, we still need to educate society around the deeper harms of the War on Drugs when it comes to resources and reparative justice. While this doesn’t cover all offenders - I do think it’s time to expand this beyond low-level offenses through the full legalization of the plant. Removing the stigma will still take all of us. And I truly hope this administration will make even more strides when it comes to embedding equity into its framework for legalization going forward.”

Amber Senter, CEO at MAKR House & Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Supernova Women

“While this represents the most significant step forward at the federal level yet, it is now incumbent upon the White House and Congress to take action on implementing reforms to support those who have been most impacted by criminalization and ensure that the emerging legal cannabis industry is not dominated by a handful of wealthy white men, but owned by those who have born the brunt of harm - Black and Brown people. 

Federal pardons are just step one, but we have a ways to go to ensure that the majority of those who have been arrested or incarcerated get relief from their state or local convictions. Supernova Women will continue to lead the way in ensuring that Black and Brown people have a seat at the table when it comes to opportunities for meaningful ownership in the cannabis economy. Now is the time for President Biden to engage with those who are fighting to ensure that the legal cannabis industry is predominantly small, local, and minority-owned businesses. When in doubt, buy weed from Black women.”

Ashley Manning - Cannabis Industry Executive and Member of the Board of Directors for Conduit Government Relations

“[The] next step is for state policy makers to listen to the POTUS and individually pardon/expunge cannabis related offenses. From there I think there will be weighted influence for federal legalization or descheduling. 

Descheduling is a more realistic first step, but we need to be fighting for full legalization too. If done correctly, federal legalization would solve many issues, but I do not feel the cannabis industry is ready for full federal legalization just YET without interstate commerce, it would only add another financial burden to a lot of the operators and I want to see them set up for success not failure. There is a lot of work that needs to be done.”