Cooper asks state lawyers to look into next steps for pardoning thousands in NC convicted with simple marijuana possession

Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday pledged his support for President Joe Biden’s pardoning of thousands of people convicted of simple marijuana possession, asking state lawyers to look into possible next steps for pardoning North Carolinians.

Data from the North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, appointed by Cooper in 2020, shows drug arrests have been known to disproportionally affect people of color. In 2019 in N.C., there were 31,287 charges for possession of up to half an ounce of marijuana. About 8,500 of those cases ended in conviction, and roughly 60% percent of those convicted were non-white despite studies showing people of different races use marijuana at similar rates, according to the commission.

According to Cooper, the task force had already decided that possession of a small amount of marijuana should not be a crime, but the General Assembly did not follow through with their recommendations.

"Law enforcement in the criminal justice system should be focused on stopping violent crime and drug trafficking and other threats to safe communities," Cooper said on Friday. "We also know a conviction of simple possession can mar people's records for life and prevent them from getting a job."

Cooper said he has asked state lawyers to determine if N.C. can take action to pardon simple possession of marijuana convictions.

"North Carolina should take steps to end this stigma," he said.

On Thursday, Biden pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law. 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.

Nationwide, far more people have been charged with state-based marijuana crimes than federal ones.

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

Recreational marijuana is legal in almost 20 U.S. states, including Illinois, Virginia and, most recently, New York, Connecticut and New Mexico.

WRAL State Government Reporter Travis Fain contributed to this report.