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President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of 鈥渟imple possession鈥� of marijuana under federal law, as his administration takes a dramatic step toward decriminalizing the drug and addressing charging practices that disproportionately impact people of color.

Mr. Biden鈥檚 move also covers thousands convicted of the crime in the District of Columbia. He is also calling on governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana offenses, which reflect the vast majority of marijuana possession cases.

Mr. Biden, in a statement, said the move reflects his position that 鈥渘o one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.鈥�

鈥淭oo many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time that we right these wrongs.鈥�

According to the White House, no one is currently in federal prison solely for 鈥渟imple possession鈥� of the drug, but the pardon could help thousands overcome obstacles to renting a home or finding a job.

鈥淭here are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.鈥�

The pardon does not cover convictions for possession of other drugs, or for charges relating to producing or possessing marijuana with an intent to distribute. Mr. Biden is also not pardoning non-citizens who were in the United States without legal status at the time of their arrest.

The Department of Justice is working to devise a process for those covered by Mr. Biden鈥檚 pardon to receive a certificate of pardon, which they can show to potential employers and others as needed.

鈥淭he Justice Department will expeditiously administer the President鈥檚 proclamation, which pardons individuals who engaged in simple possession of marijuana, restoring political, civil, and other rights to those convicted of that offense,鈥� the department said in a statement. 鈥淚n coming days, the Office of the Pardon Attorney will begin implementing a process to provide impacted individuals with certificates of pardon.鈥�

Mr. Biden is also directing the secretary of Health and Human Services and the U.S. attorney general to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. Rescheduling the drug would reduce or potentially eliminate criminal penalties for possession. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD, but ahead of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The White House did not set a timeline for the review.

But Mr. Biden said he believes that as the federal government and many states ease marijuana laws, they should maintain limitations on trafficking, marketing, and underage sales.

The move by Mr. Biden puts the federal government on course with other big cities like New York that have been moving toward decriminalizing low-level marijuana arrests for years. But there鈥檚 a big divide in the nation as some police departments still believe the drug leads to more serious crime and ignoring low-level offenses emboldens criminals.

Advocacy groups praised Mr. Biden鈥檚 announcement, with Kassandra Frederique, the executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, saying the organization was 鈥渢hrilled.鈥�

鈥淭his is incredibly long overdue,鈥� said Ms. Frederique. 鈥淭here is no reason that people should be saddled with a criminal record 鈥� preventing them from obtaining employment, housing, and countless other opportunities 鈥� for something that is already legal in 19 states and D.C. and decriminalized in 31 states.鈥�

Rev. Al Sharpton, the president of the National Action Network, said Mr. Biden鈥檚 鈥渞ighteous action today will give countless Americans their lives back.鈥� But he added, 鈥淭he United States will never justly legalize marijuana until it reckons with the outdated policies that equated thousands of young Black men with hardened drug pushers.鈥�

The move also fulfills one of the top priorities of the Democratic nominee in one of their party鈥檚 most critical Senate races, as Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has repeatedly pressed Mr. Biden to take the step, including last month when they met in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Fetterman, in a statement, took credit for elevating the issue on Mr. Biden鈥檚 agenda and praised the decision, calling it 鈥渁 massive step towards justice.鈥�

鈥淭his action from President Biden is exactly what this work should be about: improving people鈥檚 lives. I commend the president for taking this significant, necessary, and just step to right a wrong and better the lives of millions of Americans,鈥� he said.

This story was reported by The Associated Press.