“Gov. Polis takes the weighty responsibility of clemency very seriously.”

Shelby Wieman, a spokesperson for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, explaining why the governor did not grant any pardons or commutations at the end of 2025. The decision marked a break from recent practice: between 2019 and 2024, Polis granted clemency to at least eight people at the end of each year, often issuing more than 20 pardons and commutations annually. In 2021, the governor granted 1,351 pardons to people convicted of marijuana possession. (The Denver Post)