Resolve, To Provide for the Sealing of Records of Convictions for Marijuana-related Violations That Are No Longer Crimes
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0846
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, FARNSWORTH, JACKSON, EVANGELOS, HICKMAN, NEWELL, O'NEIL, PLUECKER, WARREN, BELLOWS

Legislative Document
No. 846
H.P. 620
House of Representatives, February 14, 2019
Resolve, To Provide for the Sealing of Records of Convictions for 
Marijuana-related Violations That Are No Longer Crimes
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representative FARNSWORTH of Portland, President JACKSON of 
Aroostook and Representatives: EVANGELOS of Friendship, HICKMAN of Winthrop, 
NEWELL of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, O'NEIL of Saco, PLUECKER of Warren, WARREN 
of Hallowell, Senator: BELLOWS of Kennebec.
Sec. 1.  Department of Public Safety; sealing of marijuana conviction 
records.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and no 
later than January 15, 2021, the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, 
State Bureau of Identification shall ensure that all criminal conviction records in the 
possession of the department that relate to an eligible marijuana conviction are made 
confidential.  The dissemination of such records by the department is prohibited.
1.  For the purposes of this section, "eligible marijuana conviction" means a 
conviction for a current or former crime that consisted of conduct that is authorized under 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, chapter 3.
2.  No later than January 15, 2020, the Department of Public Safety shall submit to 
the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over adult use 
marijuana matters, criminal justice and public safety matters and judicial matters a report 
regarding the progress made by the department in meeting the requirements of this 
section.  The report must include any proposed legislation necessary for the department to 
meet the requirements of this section by January 15, 2021.  After reviewing the report, the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over adult use marijuana 
matters may report out legislation relating to the report to the First Regular Session of the 
130th Legislature.  The joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over criminal justice and public safety matters and judicial matters may make 
recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over adult use marijuana matters regarding that legislation.
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, State 
Bureau of Identification to ensure that all criminal conviction records in the possession of 
the department that relate to the conviction for an offense involving marijuana that is no 
longer illegal are made confidential and prohibits the dissemination of such records.  The 
department is required to submit a report to the 130th Legislature regarding the progress 
of the department in meeting the requirements of this legislation.