The White House accepts petitions, acting like if the petitions get enough signatures that there will be some type of action that comes out of it. Apparently if you are a medical marijuana provider facing a virtual life sentence for a harmless act, exceptions are made and a response is withheld. Below is the White House’s response to Montana medical marijuana provider Chris Williams’ petition. There’s a link at the bottom to tell the White House what you think…I encourage all readers to do so:
Why We Can’t Comment on Chris Williams
By The White House
Thank you for signing the petition “Grant a full pardon to Chris Williams, a man facing 80 years in prison for legally growing medical marijuana“ We appreciate your participation in the We the People platform on WhiteHouse.gov.
Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the President the authority to grant “Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States.” For more than 100 years, Presidents have relied on the Department of Justice and its Office of the Pardon Attorney for assistance in the exercise of this power. Requests for executive clemency for federal offenses should be directed to the Pardon Attorney, who conducts a review and investigation, and prepares the Department’s recommendation to the President. Additional information and application forms are available on the Pardon Attorney’s website.
The President takes his constitutional power to grant clemency very seriously, and recommendations from the Department of Justice are carefully considered before decisions are made. The White House does not comment, however, on individual pardon applications. In accordance with this policy and the We the People Terms of Participation-which explain that the White House may sometimes choose not to respond to petitions addressing certain matters—the White House declines to comment on the specific case addressed in this petition.
Tell us what you think about this response and We the People.
