It's Friday, October 7th. I'm Trevelle Anderson.

And I'm Priyanka Eribindi and this is Buta Day, the podcast that's recorded from under

a mountain of large decorative pumpkins.

Not just pumpkins though, squashes and other autumn gourds as well.

Yeah, listen, whatever they are, there are way too many of them. I can barely move.

Someone please get me out of here.

Soon and very soon, please and thank you.

On today's show, Brittany Griner's wife said she's worried about how the WNBA star is coping

in Russian prison. Plus, a new report suggests that getting your COVID booster now could save

tens of thousands of lives.

But first, President Biden announced Thursday that he will pardon everyone convicted on

federal marijuana possession charges.

Yeah, and it's a significant move that could have wide ranging implications.

Before we get into the specifics, let's take a listen to a bit of the announcement.

As I said when I ran for president, no one should be in jail just for using a possession

marijuana. It's already legal in many states. And criminal records from marijuana possession

have led to needless barriers to employment, to housing, and educational opportunities.

And that's before you address the racial disparities around who suffers the consequences.

Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It's time

that we write these wrongs.

Okay, so this pardon is for folks who were convicted on federal charges of simple possession

of the drug, formally known as Miss Mary Jane, right?

...