Issue full pardons for those who have committed minor drug offenses

This is a proposal to provide full pardons for many of the 70 million Americans who have criminal records due to minor, non-violent, drug related offenses.
The criminal records of these folks prevents them from attaining jobs, or limits them to low paying positions.
The best method to prevent recidivism is to help assure that citizens who have attoned for their crimes be encouraged to attain employment.
Doing this would expunge their records, allowing all of them a second chance.
A criminal record, serving time, should not result in a lifetime sentence to second class citizenship.
Issuing pardons would go far to cutting welfare costs, providing far more workers, and helping many more citizens lead productive lives.
It would also be compassionate, and fair.