# Dank Brandon (President Biden) announces Federal pardon of Marijuana Possession and use charges - inmates, review of federal laws re: same **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 6, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840 "2022-10-06T19:20:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/121 "2024-12-15T20:57:57Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Did Biden give a specific rationale for pardoning Conahan? You know Republicans are going to be running attack ads based off of this, however hypocritical the GOP stance may be. It’s been explained a couple of times already. He was pardoned as part of a large group of people who fit certain criteria. The group was all on house arrest after being let out of prison early because of high susceptibility to covid. That list certainly should have been reviewed more closely. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/122 "2024-12-15T21:28:08Z")
Obviously Biden’s not running for reelection. But Republicans will try to taint the Ds by association. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/123 "2024-12-15T21:34:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > But Republicans will try to taint the Ds by association. And alas, all of Trump’s pardons have been people of impeccable moral character, so there’s no way that that could possibly be turned around on him. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/124 "2024-12-16T14:19:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > My guess is that he is old- 75?-, sick, and they cant keep him in prison due to Covid anyway, he is on home release. He has served half his sentence, which is about normal for a white collar crime. They still should have reviewed the list more carefully rather than combining the undeserving with others who were better candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/125 "2024-12-16T15:59:47Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > They still should have reviewed the list more carefully rather than combining the undeserving with others who were better candidates. I agree. Unless it is a commentary as to excessive incarceration, the possibility of rehabilitation, and the cost of continued incarceration. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/126 "2024-12-16T17:21:13Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > They still should have reviewed the list more carefully rather than combining the undeserving with others who were better candidates. Absolutely. It was very disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2024, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/127 "2024-12-19T06:14:12Z")
> **[Biden was right to commute the sentence of the “kids for cash” judge - Kevin...](https://jabberwocking.com/biden-was-right-to-commute-the-sentence-of-the-kids-for-cash-judge/)** > > I wish I could convince everyone that prison sentences in America are, across the board, way too long. All of them. Even the ones for crimes you personally think are unusually heinous. The nickel version of the argument goes like this: Since the... ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/128 "2024-12-23T20:21:53Z")
Kevin Drum’s argument is bullshit. Many prison sentences can be too long without all of them being so. Aging out of some crime happens, but not everyone ages out of being a criminal in their 30s. I think Biden had good intentions, but this just shows that blanket criteria lose details that matter. Some crimes deserve harsh punishment because of how callous they were, and the lives they destroyed. The “kids for cash” judge and the embezzlement lady are two examples. I’m okay with considering first offenses and leniency and the ability to be rehabilitated, but I think the sieving criteria sounded good in abstract but missed something in practice. Some financial criminals will never be able to provide restitution. They should be jailed for a long time. If prison is somehow too inhumane, then we really need to reevaluate something about the process and facilities. But some nonviolent crimes destroy lives. How many of those kids sent to prison were injured during incarceration? ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/129 "2024-12-23T22:07:24Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Many prison sentences can be too long without all of them being so. I find eleven years served for anything other than murder, or, maybe, definite attempted murder, too long. So I agree with Drum. The only possible criticism I have, of the kids for cash commuted sentence, is that it is politically harmful to the Democratic brand at a time when the Republican brand is dangerously authoritarian. This unfortunately justifies failure to commute every one of the federal death row inmates. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/130 "2024-12-23T22:16:44Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > But some nonviolent crimes destroy lives. How many of those kids sent to prison were injured during incarceration? I have a hard time calling that “nonviolent”. Kidnapping is usually considered a violent crime, isn’t it? False imprisonment is basically the same thing as kidnapping. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/131 "2024-12-24T01:09:55Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Many prison sentences can be too long without all of them being so. Aging out of some crime happens, but not everyone ages out of being a criminal in their 30s. Well, hyperbole is a thing, and compared to other western nations, yeah, we have too many prisoners in for too long. But Conahan is 72 and sick. > [@Irishman](#): > > I’m okay with considering first offenses and leniency and the ability to be rehabilitated, He was a white collar first offense, and already served more that half his sentence, which is normal for white collar, and his sentence was about 4 times longer than most other first time white collar criminals- He was sentenced for a total of 18 years. He served about 13. > [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I find eleven years served for anything other than murder, or, maybe, definite attempted murder, too long. Yep. Only very violent crimes should be sentenced for more than ten years, IMHO. > [@Chronos](#): > > Kidnapping is usually considered a violent crime, isn’t it? False imprisonment is basically the same thing as kidnapping. They were all guilty of their “crimes”. The issue was that the sentences were often unduly long. They were arrested by the police, etc, not him, But sure, he deserved a long sentence and the heavy fines. But why spend federal $$ keeping and old sick man in prison, long after others would have gone free? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/132 "2024-12-24T02:25:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But sure, he deserved a long sentence and the heavy fines. But why spend federal $$ keeping and old sick man in prison, long after others would have gone free? Wasn’t he already on house arrest because of covid risk? ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/133 "2024-12-24T03:08:18Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I find eleven years served for anything other than murder, or, maybe, definite attempted murder, too long. So I agree with Drum. How about 11 years for raping a dozen women? Or molesting a 5 year old? We know some people are a continued risk for the rest of their lives, and will never be safe to have in society. How long is justified for stealing billions from retirees that forces them to have to go back to work? I once worked with an old man with mobility issues doing people greeter at Walmart because his savings was destroyed by the Enron collapse. He should have been comfortably retired, but had to work. How about inciting an insurrection? I realize 0 years is the going rate right now, but is a 10 year sentence too long in theory for trying to overthrow democracy? What’s appropriate for a repeat DUI offender who kills someone? Maybe I’m just brainwashed. Maybe prison should only be for 6 months unless you shoot a dozen kids, then a year is sufficient. > [@DrDeth](#): > > But Conahan is 72 and sick. So being old and sick is a free pass? Trump is 78. I still would like to have seen him convicted and sent to prison. Something resembling actual prison, not an ankle monitor and confined to his apartment in Trump Tower or Mar-a-lago. > [@DrDeth](#): > > He was a white collar first offense, and already served more that half his sentence, which is normal for white collar, and his sentence was about 4 times longer than most other first time white collar criminals- He was sentenced for a total of 18 years. He served about 13. First, calling it a first offense is a bit rich if it involved multiple instances. “We finally got El Chapo for running a drug cartel and convicted him. But it’s a first offense, so he deserves leniency.” Second, I don’t see why half of sentenced time should be a standard to desire. If the sentence is fair at a longer time, it should be served. If it isn’t fair, then the sentences should be shorter. But regularly letting people out early is screwy. That drives sentencing upwards since the expectation is they won’t serve the whole term. As for his sentence being 4 times longer than other white collar crimes, I don’t have enough details on the specifics of his case to decide if that’s relevant. I mean, someone embezzling a grand from their church is a different scenario than someone bilking millions from a child cancer hospital. Taking bribes to send convicted teens to longer duration sentences than they deserve seems fitting for a longer sentence. It’s kinda turnabout, karma, whatever you want to call it. > [@DrDeth](#): > > But why spend federal $$ keeping and old sick man in prison, long after others would have gone free? Because the merits of his conviction are different than the others who would have gone free? How sick is he? Mild chronic conditions that many people have? Liver cancer? An elevated risk for covid is pretty vague. I’ve got asthma and high blood pressure. I doubt that would keep me out of prison of I were to commit a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/134 "2024-12-24T03:14:35Z")
Cash for kids: A 17 year sentence is cut down to 14 years. This doesn’t bend me out of shape. Generally speaking deterrence is driven much more by certainty of punishment than intensity of punishment. There is no public safety risk in letting a formerly corrupt judge go. Fourteen years in prison sends plenty of message. We’re discussing an old man. Virtuous societies have a place for mercy; hell, medieval societies had a place for mercy. I am permitting my brain to override my liver. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/135 "2024-12-24T04:35:45Z")
And now this: > **[Praise and outrage follow Biden’s decision to commute federal death row...](https://www.cnn.com/us/death-row-inmates-sentences-commutes/index.html)** > > President Joe Biden’s announcement that he’s taking 37 people off federal death row resulted in praise from some families and deep disappointment from others. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/136 "2024-12-24T06:53:20Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Wasn’t he already on house arrest because of covid risk? Yes, but there was a move to send him back I read. > [@Irishman](#): > > How about 11 years for raping a dozen women? Or molesting a 5 year old? Serious violent crimes. > [@Irishman](#): > > How long is justified for stealing billions from retirees that forces them to have to go back to work? I once worked with an old man with mobility issues doing people greeter at Walmart because his savings was destroyed by the Enron collapse. > **[Enron scandal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal)** > > The Enron scandal was an accounting scandal sparked by American energy company Enron Corporation filing for bankruptcy after news of widespread internal fraud became public in October 2001, leading to its accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, then one of the five largest in the world, dissolving. In addition to being the largest bankruptcy reorganization in U.S. history at that time, Enron was cited as the biggest audit failure.: 61  > Enron was formed in 1985 by Kenneth Lay after merging Houston N... _Fastow and his wife, Lea, both pleaded guilty to charges against them. Fastow was initially charged with 98 counts of fraud, [money laundering](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_laundering), [insider trading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insider_trading), and conspiracy, among other crimes.[[97]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal#cite_note-Fastow98-97) Fastow pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy and was sentenced to ten years with no parole in a [plea bargain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plea_bargain) to testify against Lay, Skilling, and Causey.[… Rick Causey was indicted with six felony charges for disguising Enron’s financial condition during his tenure.[[107]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal#cite_note-Causey6Charges-107) After pleading not guilty, he later switched to guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison.[[108]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal#cite_note-Causey7Years-108),Lay was convicted of all six counts of securities and wire fraud for which he had been tried, and he was subject to a maximum total sentence of 45 years in prison…_ > [@Irishman](#): > > So being old and sick is a free pass? Trump is 78. I still would like to have seen him convicted and sent to prison. Something resembling actual prison, not an ankle monitor and confined to his apartment in Trump Tower or Mar-a-lago. Not a free pass but too expensive to keep in prison. No legal expert predicted that sort of sentence for trump. > [@Irishman](#): > > Second, I don’t see why half of sentenced time should be a standard to desire. Half of the sentence is pretty standard for white collar non-violent crimes. Not my idea, it is just the way things are. Our prisons are too overcrowded, Courts often have to order inmates released due to the overcrowding. > [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > A 17 year sentence is cut down to 14 years. This doesn’t bend me out of shape. I concur. Mind you i am not applauding this commutation, but it doesnt deserve condemnation either. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840/137 "2024-12-24T14:51:02Z")
I think we’ve probably hijacked this thread enough talking about generics of sentencing and the justice system. 14 years out of 17 is not “scream at the world” injustice. But I do think about the victims who got to think about the conviction and sentence finding out the time was cut. There’s some probability they feel a little cheated on the justice they achieved in court. I applaud Biden for attempting to grant leniency to people that were over sentenced or have repented and are ready to return to public life. I just feel there may have been a few cases that the details don’t sit right. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dank-brandon-president-biden-announces-federal-pardon-of-marijuana-possession-and-use-charges-inmates-review-of-federal-laws-re-same/972840.md?page=6)