Pardoning People Convicted of Drug Possession

That the Parliament commends the reported announcement from the President of the United States of America to pardon those convicted of cannabis possession; believes that campaigners across Scotland and the rest of the UK will monitor this with interest; understands that the so-called war on drugs and the criminalisation of drug users has had a disproportionately negative impact on working class and ethnic minority people across Britain, including in Scotland; further understands that, since the start of the 2011 financial year, 11,312 people have been convicted of cannabis usage in Scotland; understands that the Scottish crime and justice survey shows that class B drug usage is higher in deprived communities; considers that the criminalisation of cannabis possession therefore has a greater impact in these communities; believes that, if implemented, the policy announced by the President of the United States of America will positively impact the lives of people convicted of cannabis possession, and considers that the Scottish Government should fully consider what it sees as the benefits of pardoning people convicted of possessing drugs for their own use and explore this policy further.