President Biden Pardons Thousands for 'Simple Possession’ of Marijuana

Official White House Photo by Erin Scott

Marijuana has never been more mainstream in America.

Thirty-nine states have legalized the drug for medical use. Nineteen of those have ended penalties for recreational use as well.

According to a report from the Marijuana Policy Project, legal cannabis sales have generated a combined total of $11.2 billion in tax revenue since 2014, when they began in Colorado and Washington.

While some of the old stigma surrounding the drug may be gone, and many states have phased out, gotten rid of or lessened penalties for its possession — multitudes of Americans have been left behind to pay the price of its previous prohibition.

President Joe Biden seeks to rectify that imbalance. Today he announced he is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law.

As I’ve said before, no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.

Today, I’m taking steps to end our failed approach. Allow me to lay them out.

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 6, 2022

"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," Biden said in a statement. "My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions."

According to Biden the move, which fulfills a pledge he made during his campaign, is the first step for the administration toward decriminalizing the drug and addressing charging practices that disproportionately impact people of color.

"Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either," he said.

The pardon covers the thousands who have been convicted of the crime in the District of Columbia as well, and Biden has called on the governors of every state to issue similar pardons — a critical move since most marijuana possession cases involve those convicted of state offenses.

Biden added, "Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs.”

Read the full text of his proclamation here.

Kendrick Lamar Rules Over 'Culture's Biggest Night'

"Culture's Biggest Night" proclaimed Kendrick Lamar its monarch Tuesday night at Atlanta's Cobb Theater.

King Kendrick took home six awards — including artist and album of the year (“Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers) — to rule the night at the 17th annual edition of the BET Hip Hop Awards.

Additionally, Lamar won lyricist of the year and best live performer for his work as a solo artist. He shared two other awards. With his cousin, and frequent collaborator Baby Keem, he took home best hip-hop video honors for "Family Ties." Along with Dave Free, Lamar was named video director of the year.

It was an impressive haul, especially considering the "N95" rapper had nine nominations. Drake, who led all nominees with 14 coming into the show, took home just three.

A complete list of winners for the Bet Hip Hop Awards 2022 follows:

Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
Future
Kanye West
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion

Hip Hop Album of the Year
Latto, 777
Drake, Certified Lover Boy
Kanye West, Donda
Future, I Never Liked You
Pusha T, It’s Almost Dry
Nas, King’s Disease II
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Song of the Year
WINNER: Latto, “Big Energy”
Hitkidd & Glorilla, “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Cardi B, Kanye West & Lil Durk, “Hot Shit”
Kodak Black, “Super Gremlin”
Future feat. Drake & Tems, “Wait for You”
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug, “Way 2 Sexy”

Best Hip Hop Video
A$AP Rocky, “D.M.B.”
WINNER: Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar, “Family Ties”
City Girls feat. Usher, “Good Love”
Cardi B, Kanye West & Lil Durk, “Hot Shit”
BIA & J. Cole, “London”
Future feat. Drake & Tems, “Wait for You”
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug, “Way 2 Sexy”

Best Collaboration
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar, “Family Ties”
City Girls feat. Usher, “Good Love”
Cardi B, Kanye West & Lil Durk, “Hot Shit”
Drake feat. 21 Savage, “Jimmy Cooks”
Benny The Butcher & J. Cole, “Johnny P’s Caddy”
WINNER: Future feat. Drake & Tems, “Wait for You”
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug, “Way 2 Sexy”

Best Duo or Group
42 Dugg & EST Gee
Big Sean & Hit-Boy
Birdman & Youngboy Never Broke Again
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
DaBaby & Youngboy Never Broke Again
WINNER: EARTHGANG
Styles P & Havoc

Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist
Baby Keem
Blxst
Doechii
Fivio Foreign
WINNER: GloRilla
Nardo Wick
Saucy Santana

Best Live Performer
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
J. Cole
Kanye West
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Tyler, the Creator

Lyricist of the Year
Baby Keem
Benny The Butcher
Drake
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Jay-Z
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Director X
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free
Teyana Taylor

Producer of the Year
ATL Jacob
Baby Keem
Hit-Boy
WINNER: Hitmaka
Kanye West
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams

DJ of the Year
D-Nice
DJ Cassidy
WINNER: DJ Drama
DJ Kay Slay
DJ Premier
Kaytranada
Mustard
Nyla Symone
L.A. Leakers: DJ sourMILK & Justin Credible

Best Hip Hop Platform
Big Boy’s Neighborhood
Breakfast Club
CO-WINNER: Caresha Please
Complex
CO-WINNER: Drink Champs
HipHopDX
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
NPR Tiny Desk
Verzuz

Hustler of the Year
WINNER: 50 Cent
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Megan Thee Stallion

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
CO-WINNER: Drake, “Churchill Downs” (Jack Harlow feat. Drake)
J. Cole, “Poke It Out” (Wale feat. J. Cole)
J. Cole, “London” (BIA & J. Cole)
Lil Baby, “Girls Want Girls” (Drake feat. Lil Baby)
Kanye West, “City of Gods” (Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys)
CO-WINNER: Drake, “Wait for You” (Future feat. Drake & Tems)
Jadakiss, “Black Illuminati” (Freddie Gibbs feat. Jadakiss)

Impact Track
WINNER: Lizzo, “About Damn Time”
Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys, “City of Gods”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar, “Family Ties”
Nas feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill, “Nobody”
Latto, “Pxssy”
Kendrick Lamar, “The Heart Part 5”
Doja Cat, “Woman”

Best International Flow
WINNER: Benjamin Epps (France)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Blxckie (South Africa)
Central Cee (UK)
Haviah Mighty (Canada)
Knucks (UK)
Le Juiice (France)
Nadia Nakai (Zimbabwe)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)

Janet Jackson's 'The Velvet Rope' Getting Deluxe Reissue for 25th Anniversary

"The Velvet Rope: Deluxe Edition" drops on Friday. 

Halloween is on the horizon but for Janet Jackson fans this week may feel a little more like Christmas.

That is because the diva is giving her devotees an early gift Friday (Oct. 7) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her classic album “The Velvet Rope.”

The five-time Grammy Award-winner will release a new deluxe edition of her sixth studio release. In 1997 the triple-platinum EP was Jackson’s fourth consecutive album to top the Billboard 200 chart.

A concept piece that was born out of her own bouts with depression, Jackson said the album was one of her toughest to make.

“You feel like the walls are closing in on you, and you can’t escape,” she recollected to Entertainment Weekly about recording the album in a 2001 interview. “That was happening to me during “Velvet Rope,” and I just felt like there was no way out.”

Fortunately for music lovers, the process of Jackson dealing with her own internal demons through her music, translated into a melodic and therapeutic treatise on female sexuality and mental health.

While she was not sure how her fan base would react when she was writing and recording the raw songs, which also touch on domestic violence and kinks, she persisted.

“I’m sure it did alienate a lot of people, but that’s what I was feeling, and I wanted to write about it, so I did,” she said.

It is a good thing she did too.

Produced by longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the effort was named one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone. Pitchfork counts it as one of “The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s”

In addition to No. 1 hits like “Together Again and “I Get Lonely,” the new edition features 13 remixes as well as B-sides and rarities like “Accept Me” and “God’s Stepchild.” It will be the first time several of the songs have been made available to stream.

Remastered versions of some of the most memorable Jackson visuals for the project will be made available to watch on YouTube in tandem with the release.

See the complete track listing for "The Velvet Rope: Deluxe Edition" below:

THE VELVET ROPE: DELUXE EDITION
Component 1:

1. Interlude -Twisted Elegance
2. Velvet Rope [feat. Vanessa-Mae]
3. You
4. Got 'Til It's Gone [feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell]
5. Interlude - Speaker Phone
6. My Need
7. Interlude - Fasten Your Seatbelts
8. Go Deep
9. Free Xone
10. Interlude - Memory
11. Together Again
12. Interlude - Online
13. Empty
14. Interlude - Full
15. What About
16. Every Time
17. Tonight's The Night
18. I Get Lonely
19. Rope Burn
20. Anything
21. Interlude - Sad
22. Special
23. Can't Be Stopped
24. Accept Me [Bonus Track] *
25. God's Stepchild [Bonus Track] *

Component 2:
1. I Get Lonely (TNT Remix Edit) with BLACKstreet *
2. Got 'Til It's Gone (Ummah Jay Dee's Revenge Mix) *
3. Go Deep (Timbaland/Missy Remix) featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott *
4. Together Again (Jimmy Jam Deeper Mix) *
5. Every Time (Jam & Lewis Disco Mix)
6. I Get Lonely (Jam & Lewis Feel My Bass Mix) *
7. Got 'Til It's Gone (David Morales & Frankie Knuckles Def Club Mix) *
8. Together Again (Tony Moran 12" Club Mix) *
9. Go Deep (Masters at Work Thunder Mix) *
10. Together Again (Tony Humphries Club Mix Edit)
11. I Get Lonely (Jason vs. Janet The Club Remix)
12. Go Deep (Masters At Work Vocal Deep Disco Dub)
13. Got 'Til It's Gone (Armand Van Helden Bonus Beats)
* = new to streaming