>There are thousands of people who have prior Federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.
WRT weed, it is now widely popular, with 2/3's in agreement with legalization. For republicans, it's merely a 50/50 issue[0]. Generally therefore, it no longer is a divisive issue and has wide support across American society.
This is quite the shift. Biden infamously a very anti-drug and anti-marijuana politician for a long time, and I remember a story from early in his presidency where he purged members of his staff who consumed marijuana and that story sort of set the tone for the Presidency with respect to drug issues that he'd remain in that mentality. He is now promising a "review" of the current schedule for the drug which could amount to nothing in the case that deep down he doesn't want to decriminalize it, but then again it could actually follow through, which could honestly cement his legacy.
It's unfortunately federal law, he had no say in the matter if they could work for him. As federal employees you can't consume marijuana (go get blasted at the lobby bar at the Watergate though, no worries there)
Original post says
>There are thousands of people who have prior Federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.