And welcome to the beat.

I am Ari Melber. Our top story is the makings of this sea change in criminal justice and

marijuana policy. Reaction now pouring in as President Biden pardons all federal marijuana

possession crimes, unburdening thousands of people of the criminal records that they

were carrying and the associated setbacks of that history.

I'm announcing a pardon for all prior federal offense, federal offenses for the civil

possession of marijuana.

I thought it was monumental.

There are thousands of people who are convicted for marijuana possession who may be denied employment,

housing or educational opportunities as a result of that conviction.

My pardon will remove this burden on them.

It starts with marijuana, but where does it go from there?

I'm asking the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to initiate

a process to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

I think it's a great decision. It's a smart move. It's too long.

Marijuana possession has been used as a weapon against underserved communities.

Whenever you look at the challenge that we face with crime in our society,

it's the wrong signal 30 days before the election.

The pardons are about marijuana, expunging criminal records of people who are already out of jail.

No one is actually left serving time in federal prison solely for marijuana possession right now.

But this is also about much more than marijuana.

Now some critics did seize on old tropes that stigmatize marijuana,

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