By BYRON TAU  President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of nearly two dozen drug offenders, including eight people who were serving life sentences, the White House said Tuesday. The 22 people granted clemency by the president were currently serving time for offenses such as distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. One man, Francis Hayden, was in the midst of a life sentence for conspiracy to grow more than 1,000 marijuana plants. The White House said that changes in federal drug laws in recent years made many of the commutations a matter of basic fairness and justice. “Had they been sentenced under current laws and policies, many of these individuals would have already served their time … [Read more...]