Source: https://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/clearing-criminal-records-for-cannabis-offenses.aspx
Timestamp: 2020-08-13 13:51:24
Document Index: 152490174

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 15', '§ 12', '§ 22', '§ 13', '§ 16', '§ 11357', '§ 24', '§ 54', '§ 4371', '§ 16', '§ 943', '§ 35', '§ 706', '§ 67', '§ 901', '§ 431', 'Art. 971', '§ 3301', '§ 10', '§ 1', '§ 609', '§ 99', '§ 29', '§ 651', '§ 160', '§ 15', '§ 2953', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 9121', '§ 12', '§ 22', '§ 23', '§ 40', '§ 411', '§ 77', '§ 7601', '§ 19', '§ 61', '§ 7', '§ 3731', '§ 11', '§ 1725']

Clearing Criminal Records for Cannabis Offenses
Cannabis, also known as marijuana or marihuana, has been legalized for recreational use in 11 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Additionally, 16 states, Guam, and the Virgin Islands have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. In 33 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, medical cannabis programs are available. Despite the recent trend of states and territories legalizing cannabis in some form or another, there remains a large population of individuals who have a criminal record for cannabis possession.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), over 7 million people were busted for having pot from 2001 to 2010. Considering recreational marijuana was first legalized in Colorado and Washington in 2012, these arrests translated into criminal convictions for the majority of individuals. Criminal convictions often carry collateral consequences, such as restrictions on professional licensing, government benefits and more. As legalization of cannabis progressed through the states, so too did the practice of clearing the criminal records of those affected by prior cannabis convictions.
Most recently, Illinois legalized marijuana with its “Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act”. The act, alongside legalizing recreational use of cannabis, provided for record clearing of “minor cannabis offenses.” However, Illinois is far from alone when it comes to clearing cannabis records. Forty-one states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands all have record-clearing laws that may apply to prior cannabis convictions. Seven states' record-clearing laws specifically address cannabis offenses, while the remaining states' and territories' record-clearing laws are broad enough to cover cannabis offenses. While there is a Uniform Collateral Consequences of Conviction Act (the "Uniform Act"), which may provide some collateral consequence relief to certain individuals with cannabis convictions, Vermont is the only state to enact it. New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Massachusetts have all introduced the Uniform Act during their 2020 legislative sessions. The Uniform Act, however, is not the only route for states that want to provide collateral consequence relief to individuals with prior cannabis convictions.
Below is an interactive map containing information for each state regarding cannabis record clearing. This resource covers both cannabis specific record clearing and general record clearing that may cover cannabis possession convictions. Click on a state for more information.
States with Cannabis Record Clearing AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MO MS MT NE NV NH NY NJ NM NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC AS GU MP PR VI
Green states have cannabis record clearing laws.
Click on a state to learn more about their record clearing laws and cannabis legalization status for recreational and medical use.
Cannabis Record Clearing: No
Citation: Ala. Code 1975 § 15-27-1 et seq.
Recreational Use: No
Medical Use: No
Citation: AS § 12.62.005 et seq.; AS § 22.35.010 et seq.
Proposed Legislation: SB 8
Recreational Use: Yes
Medical Use: Yes
Citation: A.R.S. § 13-901 et seq.
Proposed Legislation: HB 2178
Cannabis Record Clearing: Yes
Cannabis Specific: No
Citation: A.C.A. § 16-90-1401 et seq.
Proposed Ballot Initiative: Arkansas Marijuana Expungement Act
Cannabis Specific: Yes
Citation: West's Ann. Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11357 et seq.
Citation: C.R.S.A. § 24-72-701 et seq.
Citation: C.G.S.A. § 54-142a et seq.
Recreational Use: Decriminalized
Citation: 11 Del.C. § 4371 et seq.
Citation: DC ST § 16-801 et seq.
Recreational Use: Yes; No Sales
Citation: West's F.S.A. § 943.01 et seq.
Proposed Legislation: SB 1342
Citation: Ga. Code Ann., § 35-3-30 et seq.
Citation: HRS § 706-620 et seq.
Citation: I.C. § 67-3001 et seq.
Citation: 20 ILCS 2630/0.01 et seq.
Citation: IC 35-38-9-0.5 et seq.
Citation: I.C.A. § 901C.1 et seq.
Citation: K.S.A. 20-6601 et seq.
Citation: KRS § 431.005 et seq.
Citation: LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 971 et seq.
Citation: 15 M.R.S.A. § 3301 et seq.
Proposed Legislation: SP 649; LD 1897
Recreational Use: Y
Medical Use: Y
Citation: MD Code, Criminal Procedure, § 10-101 et seq.
Citation: M.G.L.A. 276 § 1 et seq.
Citation: M.C.L.A. Ch. 780 et seq.
Proposed Legislation: SB 416; HB 5030; HB 5120; HB 5029
Citation: M.S.A. § 609A.01 et seq.
Citation: Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-1 et seq.
Medical Use: Decriminalized
Citation: V.A.M.S. 610.100 et seq.
Proposed Legislation: HB 1385; HB 2060
Citation: MCA 46-18-1101 et seq.
Citation: Neb.Rev.St. § 29-2223 et seq.
Citation: N.R.S. 179.2405 et seq.
Citation: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:1 et seq.
Citation: N.J.S.A. 2C:52-1 et seq.
Citation: HB 370 (not yet codified)
Citation: McKinney's CPL § 160.10 et seq.
Citation: N.C.G.S.A. § 15A-145 et seq.
Citation: NDCC, 19-03.1-01 et seq.
Citation: R.C. § 2953.01 et seq.
Citation: 22 Okl.St.Ann. § 1 et seq.
Citation: O.R.S. § Ch. 459, § 2 et seq.
Cannabis Record Clearing: Y
Cannabis Specific: N
Citation: 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 9121 et seq.
Recreational Use: N
Citation: Gen.Laws 1956, § 12-1.3-1 et seq.
Note: Only for 1st time drug possession
Citation: Code 1976 § 22-5-910 et seq.
Citation: SDCL § 23A-3-1 et seq.
Citation: T.C.A. § 40-32-101 et seq.
Citation: V.T.C.A., Government Code § 411.071 et seq.
Citation: U.C.A. 1953 § 77-40-101 et seq.
Citation: 13 V.S.A. § 7601 et seq.
Citation: VA Code Ann. § 19.2-392.1 et seq.
Citation: W. Va. Code, § 61-11-1 et seq.
Citation: West's RCWA 9.96.010 et seq.
Citation: W.S.A. 973.01 et seq.
Citation: W.S. 1977 § 7-13-1501 et seq.
Information unavailable at this time
Citation: 5 V.I.C. § 3731 et seq.
Citation: 8 G.C.A. § 11.10
Cannabis Record Clearing: Information unavailable at this time
Citation: 34 L.P.R.A. § 1725 et seq.
Marijuana Deep Dive
Collateral Consequences Resource Center 50-State Chart
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