Showing no signs of slowing down the marathon man inspiring america. This is nbc nightly news with lester holt good evening, everyone. With Recreational Marijuana use now legal in 19 states, it has been easy to forget pot is still very much illegal under federal law, where the drug is classified right alongside lsd and heroin but tonight President Biden declaring its time to right the wrongs of what he called a failed approach to marijuana, announcing he is pardoning all prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana and asking states where most pot convictions take place to do the same potentially impacting thousands. Its an effort to end what the president sees as unfairness in simple Marijuana Possession cases where he says black and brown people are more likely to be prosecuted. And he also wants a hard look taken at how the government classifies pot, which for now is regarded as more serious than fentanyl Kelly Odonnell has details. Reporter today, President Biden change
Bernards healthcares of democrats say they want 75 of democrats want somebody other than sleepy joe to run for president. Fox news hit the streets to ask voters about the very topic and the answers, oh, theyre not good for joe. Some say hes not living up to his promises and others say hes older than the milk at gas station coffee bar. Most people, they just want someone else, watch. I think the democratic field is a little bit splintered now. I think cory booker has a shot. I think Pete Buttigieg has a shot but its hard to say. Probably hillary, but shes not very well liked. Probably kamala harris. She has a fair amount of support, a woman candidate as a front runner seems almost impossible to beat, especially because biden is old and withering away. Probably the popularity of the california newsom. Newsom, i dont think would be a problem because hes a little bit on the crazy side. I dont know of any candidates that i would be happy to support. Im definitely democrat. Oh, what a reendo
Sentences against 21 women and girls has been reduced. They were reduced and released. A cold snap across much of the country is paralyzing countries. Several deaths have been linked to the weather, which is bringing snow to the midwest, out the way down to texas. One person was killed when his car hit an icy patch of road and ran off a bridge. Ill be back later. America tonight is up next. Hello, you are watching america tonight, the weekend edition. Our focus on the Health Care Debate led us to wonder about those that had little to say in health care they received and no recourse to demand better. States turned over health care to private forprofit companis, promising taxpayers greater savings. As the Companies Cut costs the than we expect. America tonights adam may investigates. Violet is a healthy and hungry 5monthold baby girl. She lives with her grandmother jody and the rest of her family here in arizona. Its a 4hour drive and a world away from where she was born at the state pri
The work that has been done by the admiral. And strengthen this with other military partners out there and so we do have dependable relationships and partners out there that we can work with and depend upon to accomplish a broader effort. So i do think it is important. And we have those who share interests. I would ask you, general, we are going to be conducting these operations outside afghanistan, how effective without me. Throughout the region as well, if you would lose all of your forces within the country. I think that that would be very challenging. And certainly there are lots of things that we can look at and i think that it would be challenging to try to address problems in one country from other regions and other countries. And this includes how we best use this in a manner that gives us the most effect. And your thoughts on that as well . If youre talking about afghanistan and how it involves the relationship of pakistan come in the capability and i look forward to the work
Government corruption. And fifth, criminal cases raising highly sensitive local issues. The Conference Also recommends that Congress Review existing federal criminal statutes with the goal of eliminating provisions that no longer serve an essential federal purpose, an idea that i know has been discussed at past hearings of this task force. Another pressing problem related to overcriminalization is the best of your knowled burgeoning problem of overpopulation, especially of crimes carrying a mandatory sentence. Mandatory opinions are wasteful of tax dollars by unnecessarily increasing costs which are burdened by the department of prisons which is within the judiciary. For 60 years, the judicial conference has consistently and vigorously opposed mandatory minimum sentences. Mandatory minimums are incompatible with guideline sentencing, a point on which judge saris makes. On mandatory minimums, judges would not have judging on sentencing. The federal guidelines would remain fully in force