Hawaii lawmakers are pressing ahead with an updated cannabis legalization plan, and while the Aloha State could very well be one of the next to embrace adult-use reform, the original plan is already seeing some substantial shifts. Namely, it appears that the Senate is looking to significantly scale back some of the actions surrounding social equity.

The original measure, passed by the House last week, would have automatically expunged tens of thousands of arrest and conviction records for low-level cannabis convictions in the state. On Tuesday, a Hawaiian Senate panel has instead amended the proposal to a single-county pilot program, first reported by Marijuana Moment.

Limiting the Scope of Cannabis Expungements in Hawaii

Similar to the recreational legalization plan, which state lawmakers are separately working to advance, this move is based on plans from Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez. 

“Instead of the bill’s statewide automatic expungement program for arrests and convictions,” said Sen. Karl Rhodes (D), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I propose that we adopt the attorney general’s pilot program for state-initiated expungement of marijuana possession arrests.”

The measure would also only apply to criminal cases “terminated with a final disposition other than a conviction,” 

Back in November 2023, Lopez released her own legalization plan, which the most recent legislation passed by the Senate primarily pulls from. While many lawmakers have praised the new bill and the plan it’s based upon, advocates have expressed concern around the bill’s creation of additional law enforcement protocols.

Among other provisions, the legislation proposes a THC blood limit for drivers (even though THC metabolites can be detected in the body days or even weeks after consumption), the creation of a cannabis enforcement unit within the Department of Law Enforcement and adds eight positions in a drug nuisance abatement unit in the AG’s office.

Rhodes suggested that the pilot program could be located in Hawaii County, the states’ second most populous county, comprising the Big Island and hosting about 14% of the state’s total population.

According to bill sponsor Rep. David Tarnas (D), the original legislation would have made approximately 30,000 people eligible for expungements. Though, if the amendments from the AG’s office remain in place, HB 1595’s ultimate impact would be far smaller. 

Influence from the Attorney General’s Office

Lopez’s office issued a statement saying that, without these amendments, the department “reiterates its strong opposition to this bill.”

“Instead of the bill in its current form, the Department proposes a pilot project whereby certain individuals who have been arrested solely for marijuana possession…and whose arrest resulted in a non-conviction disposition, have the arrest expunged via a state-initiated process,” the department said in a statement.

It continues, arguing that limiting the expungement process to one county would keep the case load manageable using its existing resources and suggested an approximate 14-month duration for the program.

“Results of the pilot project could then be used to evaluate the project’s effectiveness, utility, and efficiency, and to allow the Data Center to make more informed recommendations for future efforts,” the department said.

Hawaii has already introduced cannabis decriminalization, in turn ushering in a record sealing process from the courts, though advocates attest that the process isn’t accessible and can be challenging to navigate. 

Mixed Reception as Hawaii Presses Forward With Potential Reform

The original bill would have automated the process, ensuring that the attorney general’s office “issue, without petition and on the department’s own initiative, an expungement order annulling, canceling, and rescinding all criminal records, including records of arrest and any records of conviction” for crimes of possessing up to three grams of cannabis. The process would have included records for civil violations, petty misdemeanor convictions, juvenile convictions, arrests and convictions, along with any pending charges.

The prior version would have also required the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to identify all eligible cases within 30 days of the bill’s enactment, providing that information in biennial reports to the attorney general’s office, county prosecuting attorneys, county police departments and each state court. 

After receiving those lists, the attorney general’s office would have 60 days to issue expungement orders for the records under the previous version. Within one year of receiving those orders, the judiciary would finish the job.

Some advocates emphasized that the passing of an expungement process in the state was monumental despite the narrower scope.

“This is a huge step forward that will encourage Gov. Green to amplify relief for those with cannabis records through his clemency powers, something the Hawai’i legislature has already urged him to do,” said Frank Stiefel, senior policy associate for the Last Prisoner Project.

Others like Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for Marijuana Policy Project, said that the changes “represent a severe blow to cannabis justice.”

“An economic life sentence is an outrageously disproportionate penalty for possessing a substance that most Hawaii residents—and the Hawai’i Senate—believe should be legal,” O’Keefe told Marijuana Moment. “Testimony at the House Judiciary Committee’s informational briefing made it clear Hawai’i can and should remove this stigma which derails so many lives.”

The changes to HB 1595 come fresh off the Senate’s passing of SB 3335, which would allow adults over the age of 21 to possess up to an ounce of cannabis and up to five grams of cannabis concentrates, along with establishing a recreational cannabis sales framework. 

That bill now heads to the state’s more conservative House for consideration, which has historically been resistant to adult-use cannabis policies.

The post Hawaii Lawmakers Amend Automatic MJ Expungement Bill to Single-County Pilot Program appeared first on High Times.

The post Hawaii Lawmakers Amend Automatic MJ Expungement Bill to Single-County Pilot Program appeared first on Paradise Found.

The United States has seen immense progress surrounding recreational cannabis reform over recent years, and while a number of countries across the globe are currently working to catch up, so too are U.S. territories like the Virgin Islands.

The Virgin Islands are located in the Caribbean and consist of main islands Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, along with more than 50 other minor islands. The islands legalized medical cannabis back in 2019, and cannabis possession of up to an ounce has been decriminalized. While lawmakers technically approved recreational legalization in January 2023, the actual implementation of the program has stalled until now.

On Tuesday, a Virgin Islands advisory board finally pushed the legalization law forward after approving a list of proposed rules and regulations surrounding the recreational use and access of cannabis in the region, Associated Press reports. A 30-day public comment period on the proposed regulations is set to begin soon.

The Virgin Islands Recreational Cannabis Regulations Finally Move Forward

“We have been waiting a very long time for this,” advisory board chairperson Dr. Catherine Kean said in response to the recent development.

The law approved in January 2023 allows adults over 21 to possess up to two ounces of cannabis, a half-ounce of cannabis concentrates and one ounce of edible and consumable products. Medical cannabis patients enjoy larger limits and can legally possess up to four ounces of cannabis, one ounce of cannabis concentrates and two ounces of consumable products.

There will also be an 18% tax applied to all recreational dispensary sales, though medical patients are exempt from paying the tax. The current plan deems that 75% of the tax revenue will go toward the general fund. Of that 75%, 15% will go toward behavioral health programs, 5% toward homelessness and 5% for youth programs.

Righting the Wrongs of the Past: Virgin Islands and Criminal Expungement

In line with similar policies implemented by states with recreational cannabis laws, the Virgin Islands have also worked criminal expungements into its regulations. Currently, the board is finalizing a list of people who are qualified to have their cannabis-related criminal records expunged under the territory’s legalization policy.According to board member Positive Nelson, the list will be shared with legislators and the Islands’ Supreme Court in the coming weeks.

Over the past 20 years, approximately 300 people have been convicted of simple cannabis possession, AP reports.

Upon the initial approval of the Virgin Islands’ recreational cannabis law last January, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. highlighted the importance of righting the wrongs of the past as it pertains to cannabis criminalization.

“It is my goal to make sure many of us who have been negatively impacted by the criminalization of cannabis are afforded every opportunity to participate in this new and legal cannabis industry,” he said.

Laying the Foundation for a New Industry

The law also recognizes the cultural and sacramental uses of cannabis, on top of recreational use. The board is completing a registration system for those using cannabis for medicinal or sacramental purposes to usher in cannabis access by April, according to the board’s executive director Hannah Carty.

Faith organizations will be required to pay $200 every two years to register, while medical practitioners will be charged $250, according to officials.

As far as retail is concerned, businesses will be able to register by June or July, and the government also recently completed a request-for-proposal process for seed-to-sale operations, according to Carty. Though she noted that cultivation and manufacturing licenses likely won’t be granted until at least 2025, highlighting that “a lot of things are not within our control.”

While it appears that the already lengthy wait to finally launch the Virgin Islands’ recreational cannabis program may be just a bit longer, the recent push represents a more clear road forward.

“The train is ready to leave the station,” board member Richard Evangelista said. “All passengers are on board.”

The U.S. Virgin Islands will join other Caribbean nations in enacting cannabis reform including Antigua, which decriminalized cannabis use for the general public, and Jamaica, which has decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis. The Bahamas are also in the process of considering policies that could legalize cannabis for medical and religious purposes and decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis.

The post U.S. Virgin Islands Push Rec Industry Forward, Approve Adult-Use MJ Regulations appeared first on High Times.

The post U.S. Virgin Islands Push Rec Industry Forward, Approve Adult-Use MJ Regulations appeared first on Paradise Found.

A clerk from the Missouri Supreme Court recently shared in a House of Representatives committee meeting on Jan. 17 that the state has expunged 103,558 cases involving people with cannabis convictions. However, many older court records are not digitized, and it is requiring a lot of time and effort on the parts of circuit clerks to comb through every case in search of expungements.

“We’ve had about 100,000 cases expunged, but I can’t tell you, of that, how many more there are to go,” said court clerk Betsy AuBuchon, according to The Missouri Independent. She added that currently, about 10% of cannabis-related cases are reviewed and eligible. However, AuBuchon requested $3.7 million in the 2024 budget to go toward Missouri courts for expungement purposes.

Missouri state law dictates that cannabis tax revenue primarily go back into the state’s cannabis regulation agencies. Anything left over will then be given to the court system to continue funding expungements for eligible cannabis-related convictions through a special assistance program. 

In March 2023, state courts would receive $4.5 million either to pay employees overtime, or hire temporary workers to complete expungements. In May, the courts were approved to receive $2.5 million in a supplemental budget.

The Missouri Independent spoke with supreme court communications counsel, Beth Riggert, who stated that circuit courts need to request for a fund reimbursement from the Circuit Court Budget Committee. That committee has provided $4.2 million to county courts so far. “Some circuit courts have advised they have not requested special assistance funds because they did not have current court clerks willing or able to work overtime and/or have been unable to find qualified individuals to provide special assistance because the analysis required is complicated and better done by experienced personnel, such as retired clerks,” said Riggert.

Out of the total 103,558 expungements that have been completed so far, Green County has received the most funds with $940,000, and completed 4,306 expungements. The county with the second-highest expungement number is Laclede County (3,515 expungements and $35,000 in funds), followed by St. Louis County (3,749 expungements and $135,000 in funds), Frankline County (3,200 expungements and $53,000 in funds), and Jackson County (2,900 expungements and $195,000 in funds).

Courts are expected to expunge cannabis-related misdemeanors before June 8, 2024, and all felonies by Dec. 8, 2024.

Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern inquired how long it will take for the courts to clear nearly everything. “We are doing our best,” said AuBuchon, who was unable to provide a solid end date for the work.

Bryan Feemster, a circuit clerk from Greene County, told the news outlet about the process of locating and expunging cannabis-related cases. “You have to look at every count in the case and see whether it actually had to do with marijuana or not,” Feemster said, explaining that clerks must read each case thoroughly.

Feemster hired four previously retired clerks to work on expungements part time and brought on two additional people to sift through boxes filled with thousands of paper files that can’t be pre-screened for expungement. “They don’t do anything else,” Feemster explained of the team of six clerks.

Adult-use cannabis was legalized through a voter initiative in November 2022, called Amendment 3, which went into effect in December that year, followed by sales starting in February 2023. Part of the push for legalization prior to the vote was that it would provide “automatic expungements” for people who served their sentences, so they wouldn’t have to petition the court or attend hearings to complete expungement.

However, due to the lack of digital records, this is much easier said than done. “Let me be the first to tell you there is nothing automatic about that,” AuBuchon said.

Feemster told The Missouri Independent that they’re working as quickly as they can. “From 1989 back, we’re going through every single criminal record to find out whether there’s something in there that might qualify,” said Feemster. “And it is, as you might imagine, very slow and tedious.”

Not all counties are lucky enough to find retired clerks with legal experience to hire. In Johnson County, county clerks have expunged 529 cases, and received $18,000 to conduct the expungement. “I have not done any kind of research to see how far along we are,” said Johnson County circuit clerk, Marcy Anderson, of her team. “We just continue to do it every day.”

Likewise, Jackson County spokesperson, Valerie Hartman, shared that clerks have reviewed 20,000 files, and so far has expunged almost 3,000 cases. First, they have reviewed cases between 1989-2022 that came from the Office of State Courts Administrator, the Missouri Corrections Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and next they’re trying to figure out how to access old criminal databases to potentially find more paper case files. “We have no information nor an estimate on how many additional drug cases await our review,” Hartman said.

As of November 2023, county clerks were far behind the deadlines. Missouri attorney Dan Viets, who often defends cannabis cases, contributed to the writing of Amendment 3. Last year, he said in a KMBC report that progress continues to be made regardless of the deadline. “We have always said that as long as the courts, the circuit clerks in particular, are making a good faith effort to comply with the law, to get those cases expunged, that we’ll be satisfied,” said Viets. “They have not technically met the deadline. But on the other hand, we’re dealing with a century of marijuana prohibition in Missouri. So, there are hundreds of thousands of cases.”

The post Missouri Courts Request $3.7 Million for Expungement appeared first on High Times.

The post Missouri Courts Request $3.7 Million for Expungement appeared first on Paradise Found.

2024 in weed strains, politics and more.

The post 30 weed predictions very likely to come true in 2024 appeared first on Leafly.

The post 30 weed predictions very likely to come true in 2024 appeared first on Paradise Found.

Cleveland, Ohio’s mayor announced the city would end its “antiquated” rules for employment, specifically removing the practice of drug-testing job applicants for cannabis.

Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced Dec. 7 that the City of Cleveland has “modernized” its Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy to remove certain language around pre-employment cannabis testing that previously automatically disqualified job applicants. It’s his latest move after pushing to expunge low-level cannabis convictions.

Pre-employment testing for city jobs will now be limited to only a few select positions that are identified as safety or security-sensitive, as well as positions that fall under the federal government’s Department of Transportation (DOT).  

The announcement was released on the same day that Issue 2 became law. Over 57% of voters in Ohio—and over 75% of Clevelanders—approved the bill 30 days ago. That means Cleveland residents approve of adult-use cannabis, three to one.

“The criminalization of marijuana in our state and the punitive effects it has had on education, housing, and employment opportunities have lasted far too long, but will eventually be a thing of the past—thanks to Ohioans who made their voices heard loud and clear last month when they voted to approve Issue 2,” said Mayor Bibb. “We are proud to continue leading the way by rolling out these updates, which builds on our prior marijuana reform efforts and other initiatives aimed at improving our HR policies.”

The following jobs are considered safety sensitive and will continue to drug test for pot:

• Police
• Fire
• EMS
• Department of Port Control
• Positions requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Positions operating heavy equipment or mechanical tools

“We are constantly evaluating our policies to ensure they align with the needs and desires of both our current and prospective employees,” Director of Human Resources Matt Cole said in the release. “Pre-employment screening can oftentimes create obstacles in filling open positions by preventing otherwise qualified candidates from even applying. These policy updates are more cost-effective and will ultimately help us widen the applicant pool for several city positions.”

The city of Baltimore, as well as Washington, Nevada, and Montana have enacted similar policies, and leaders in Cleveland noticed. Despite these changes, the city will still follow rules and regulations when it comes to the Drug-Free Workplace Act.

“Maintaining a drug-free workplace is needed for obvious reasons, but it’s also important for us to be cognizant of the fact that the state is still finalizing regulation, taxation, and licensing terms and processes,” Law Director Mark Griffin said in the release. “We will be keeping a keen eye on how things get sorted out in the legislature and court system, and will adapt procedures and update policy as necessary as the situation evolves in Columbus.”

Mayor Justin Bibb

The city noted that in 2022, the Bibb Administration filed motions to expunge over 4,000 cannabis-related conviction records and then pushed for changes to State law to simplify the expungement process. 

Thanks to these efforts, Ohio Senate Bill 288 was signed into law and took effect last April, allowing city officials to expunge records more efficiently and effectively. City officials also have partnered with other agencies to hold multiple expungement clinics.  

The Bibb Administration has also spearheaded various other HR policy-related updates since the mayor took office, including opening City Hall’s first gender-inclusive restroom last June and offering employees a new comprehensive paid parental leave policy.

Bibb was young when he won office at age 34 as the city’s first millennial mayor. Last May, he moved to expunge low-level cannabis convictions. 

“I talked to so many residents who couldn’t get a job, who couldn’t get access to a student loan, who couldn’t get access to qualify for housing because they had collateral sanctions on their record, many of which stem from low-level marijuana convictions,” Bibb said.

Grants to cover filing fees and expungement clinics are rolling out to make expungements possible. “We knew we were going to face some uphill battles in the legal system,” he said.

Bibb also advocated for Senate Bill 288, which was signed into law by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine last January. The bill helps enable the city of Cleveland to provide expungements by removing barriers that previously hindered Bibb’s attempts to expunge records even earlier.  

“We try to fight on behalf of our residents,” Bibb said.

The Bibb administration also worked to notify eligible people with cannabis conviction records. After that, the city filed motions on behalf of those people using a $10,000 grant to help pay for filing fees related to expungement and the sealing of records. The city is working with organizations to host expungement clinics where people can file and close their cases, without going to court. 

The post Cleveland, Ohio Mayor Ends Pre-Employment Drug Testing for Pot appeared first on High Times.

The post Cleveland, Ohio Mayor Ends Pre-Employment Drug Testing for Pot appeared first on Paradise Found.

U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. recently called out to residents with cannabis convictions to contact the government to determine if those convictions are eligible for expungement.

The territory’s cannabis law, Act No. 8679, dictates that any cannabis convictions be automatically expunged if it involves an individual in possession of two ounces of cannabis or less. “This initiative reflects the Governor’s commitment to justice and fairness in applying the law, especially in light of recent changes that have made the expungement process more complex than initially intended,” the governor’s most recent notice stated. “However, to ensure full compliance and address any potential gaps in data received from the Judicial Branch of the Virgin Islands, Governor Bryan requests individuals impacted by this law to proactively contact Government House.”

Special Advisor Positive Nelson will manage the effort to expand expungement services by leading a designated task force, which includes “…representatives from the office of the Virgin Islands Attorney General, the Office of the Territorial Public Defender, Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Bar Association, and the Virgin Islands Justice Institute.”

The brief notice also stated that moving forward with the requirements of Act. No. 8679 “…represents a significant step toward rectifying past inequities in the criminal justice system. The Governor’s Office encourages all eligible individuals to come forward and take advantage of this opportunity for a fresh start.”

Previously, the U.S. Virgin Islands government has been quiet on its progress regarding expungement. An article published by The Virgin Daily News last week stated that the government was supposed to issue the first “auto-expungement report” by Nov. 18, or 10 months after the passage of the cannabis act, but no updates had been provided regarding the progress of the initiative. Likewise, no announcements had been made regarding pardons by Bryan.

Former Sen. Janelle Sarauw, a co-sponsor of the bill, told The Virgin Daily News he’s disappointed in the lack of progress. “I think it’s a travesty that the equity piece hasn’t even been addressed,” Sarauw said. “That was the intent of having the companion legislation to ensure that those who have been disenfranchised or locked up for cannabis can have a fair shot at life. And it’s just, it’s appalling that nothing has been done.” 

The local news outlet claims it has repeatedly reached out to the government for updates, but was provided with little information. In September, Justice Department spokesperson Sandra Goomansingh responded to The Virgin Daily News’s requests, but only said that “your questions have been directed to the OCR so a comment should be forthcoming.” The law states that $250,000 has been earmarked to support an expungement program, but it appears that the funds have not yet been spent.

Earlier in November, The Virgin Daily News reached out to the U.S. Virgin Islands Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR) Director Hannah Carty, who estimated that the territory’s cannabis program would begin in January 2024, alongside the “Cannabis Registry system.” “The OCR is summarizing the information and will present the next steps at the next Board meeting,” Carty told the outlet. “The Board is scheduling a meeting in the next two weeks, pending member availability.”

Currently, the Cannabis Advisory Board has room for a total of 11 representatives, but Bryan has only appointed four people so far.

The U.S. Virgin Islands legalized adult-use cannabis when Bryan signed The Virgin Islands Cannabis Use Act in January 2023. “We are bringing the opportunities to you, but you must also do your part to seize these opportunities,” Bryan said earlier this year. “It is my goal to make sure many of us who have been negatively impacted by the criminalization of cannabis are afforded every opportunity to participate in this new and legal cannabis industry.”

At the time, he also explained that people with cannabis convictions should take action themselves in order to expedite expungement. “However, the best way to ensure the expungement of your records for marijuana related convictions and any other eligible convictions is to file a petition with the Court seeking that expungement,” Bryan said during the January legalization announcement. “Don’t wait for the opportunities to come to you, go out and grab them.”

In September 2023, the Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs announced that the board officially released its draft rules to cover both medical and recreational cannabis regulation. This prompted an invitation for public comment, which lasted until Oct. 10.

The cannabis law allows adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of cannabis, half an ounce of concentrates, or one ounce of products like edibles to be used recreationally, or for sacramental purposes. Additionally, medical cannabis patients may possess up to four ounces of cannabis, one ounce of concentrates, and two ounces of cannabis products.

The law also allows cannabis cultivation for sacramental use, but only for those who apply and are approved for a permit.

Cannabis sales will include a 18% tax on recreational products, and 3/4 of the revenue will go toward a general fund that provides 15% to behavioral health programs, 5% to support homelessness efforts, and 5% for youth-related programs.

The post U.S. Virgin Islands Calls for People with Cannabis Convictions To Reach Out for Expungements appeared first on High Times.

The post U.S. Virgin Islands Calls for People with Cannabis Convictions To Reach Out for Expungements appeared first on Paradise Found.

Just over a year ago, Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 to legalize cannabis possession and sales for adults over 21. While witnessing how quickly the market found its footing, with sales beginning less than three months later on Feb. 3, 2023, perhaps more impressive is the state’s commitment to cannabis-related expungements.

Under Amendment 3, all nonviolent cases related to cannabis are required to be expunged, meaning that the case record is sealed or destroyed and involved persons are cleared of their charges. While fully completing expungements is unlikely to happen under the deadlines indicated in the new law, the state has expunged nearly 100,000 cannabis convictions from government records according to a KMBC 9 report.

The law includes a June 8 deadline for misdemeanor expungements and a Dec. 8 deadline for felony expungements, with an exception for those still incarcerated or currently under supervision by the Department of Corrections.

Dan Viets, a Missouri attorney with a focus on defending cannabis cases, wrote parts of the constitutional amendment. Speaking with KMBC 9, he nodded to these missed deadlines and highlighted the sheer amount of work involved in expunging Missouri’s cannabis-related cases.

“We have always said that as long as the courts, the circuit clerks in particular, are making a good faith effort to comply with the law, to get those cases expunged, that we’ll be satisfied,” Viets said. “They have not technically met the deadline. But on the other hand, we’re dealing with a century of marijuana prohibition in Missouri. So, there are hundreds of thousands of cases.”

The progress is evident, as reports from June 2023 show that the state had expunged about 44,000 cases at the time. And even over the summer, experts had already theorized that the deadlines imposed by the amendment were unlikely to be met.

Stephen Sokoloff, senior counsel for the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, believed that the deadlines were destined to fail from the beginning, calling the amendment “very poorly written” and drafted without Missouri law in mind.

“So it doesn’t actually track a lot of the aspects of Missouri law,” Sokoloff told St. Louis Public Radio in June. “As a result, it makes it a lot more difficult for compliance because there’s some mashing of square pegs into round holes that has to go on.”

Tackling the entirety of the state’s nonviolent cannabis-related offenses is made even harder given the way expungements are treated throughout the state. Some counties are quick to clear cannabis convictions, while judges and prosecutors in other counties have resisted and further delay expungements.

Viets spoke to this reality over the summer to Missouri NORML, where he also works as a coordinator.

“It is clear that many counties have made no serious effort to comply with the requirements of the Missouri Constitution,” he said. “It should not be necessary to seek a court order in order to force our courts to comply with the Missouri Constitution, but if that is what is required, we may pursue that option. There is no reason why these counties should be dragging their feet and failing to comply with the law as passed by the voters of our state.”

John Mueller, co-owner of 31 Greenlight Dispensary stores with 15 in Missouri alone, told KMBC 9 that revenues have tripled since making the switch from medical to recreational. That increased revenue from adult-use cannabis sales generates tax dollars for municipalities and the state, which in turn could be used for the expungement process, he pointed out.

“That’s one of the things that I think the industry is the most proud of,” Mueller said in the report, “is getting that in the Constitution.”

While 100,000 cases in a year is worth celebrating, Missouri is only just getting started. Viets told KMBC 9 that lawsuits are possible if specific communities don’t put in the work to expunge cannabis-related offenses covered by the new law. Even with the current progress, Viets added that he expects the entirety of expungements to take years to fully complete.

The post Missouri Expunged Nearly 100K MJ Convictions in a Year, Despite Missing Deadlines appeared first on High Times.

The post Missouri Expunged Nearly 100K MJ Convictions in a Year, Despite Missing Deadlines appeared first on Paradise Found.

A trio of dedicated attorneys—Andrew Cooper of Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP, Michael Hoffman of The Hoffman Centers PC, and John Williams of the Law Office of John D. Williams—are donating their time to help people expunge their records at an upcoming cannabis convention in New Jersey.

People currently sit in prison for cannabis-related convictions that are essentially the same activities that are now legal in dozens of states. Like several other states, New Jersey provided a pathway to expungement, though it usually takes the expertise of a legal professional. Certain low-level cannabis convictions in New Jersey are eligible for expungement, and an on-site legal team at the convention can provide more information about the criteria.

NJBiz reports that running from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey, the 420 Expo calls itself a “stigma-free celebration of the legal cannabis lifestyle” and will feature more than 100 vendors, live entertainment, educational seminars, celebrity appearances, and most importantly, expungement assistance. 

“People with cannabis convictions often find it impossible to find jobs, housing, or college loans. They often lose their right to vote and the ability to receive public assistance. Many employers won’t hire anyone with a drug conviction or have policies requiring immediate termination if a past drug arrest is discovered—with or without a conviction. The issue is even more profound when you consider that a significant majority of those arrested for cannabis have been simple possession charges,” said Cooper, who is also chair of the Cannabis & Psychedelics Practice Group at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman.

Cooper continued, “The so-called war on drugs has been particularly hard on minority and low-income communities, and although studies show white, brown, and Black people use cannabis equally, Black and brown people were nearly four times as likely to be arrested for cannabis violations. Despite laws designed to assist these communities, the individuals affected most are also least able to benefit due to a lack of access to information and support. The Expungement Clinics at 420 Expo are intended to provide the kind of meaningful access to information otherwise sorely lacking in society.”

Their plans “will provide access to legitimate support that can help people take advantage of their legal rights and make huge steps in achieving their social justice,” said Davis, who is co-founder of 420 Expo. The convention will host Cheech Marin and a lineup of education events and vendors. “We are thrilled to bring this type of necessary social support to our three-day cannabis celebration,” Davis said.

420 Expo will include VIP meet and greets with Marin as well as guest appearances by other cannabis-related celebrities and more than 20 seminars and panels appealing to both casual and experienced cannabis enthusiasts. The event will also feature product demonstrations, gaming areas, contests, glass blowing and axe throwing. Outdoors, there will be a large smoking section in addition to a variety of food trucks.

While THC products will not be sold at 420 Expo, attendees may bring the legal limit for personal use under state law, according to organizers.

420 Expo will be open 5 to 11 p.m. on Sept. 29, noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 30 and noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 1. For more information or to purchase advance tickets to this 21-plus event, visit 420Expo.com.

New Jersey’s Cannabis Expungement Provisions

The Marijuana Decriminalization Law took effect July 1, 2021, and requires the expungement of certain cannabis and hashish cases. As a result, the Supreme Court has ordered that thousands of cases be expunged.

People in New Jersey with low-level cannabis cases can apply for expungement, including those convicted of distribution of cannabis less than one ounce or hashish less than five grams. possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana, or more than five grams of hashish.

If the case included only one of the above offenses and any of the below offenses, it was expunged: Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Use or Being Under Influence of Controlled, Dangerous Substance, and Failure to Make Lawful Disposition of Controlled, Dangerous Substance.

New Jersey’s legislation does not require that every cannabis-related charge be expunged. If you have questions about your specific case, ask an attorney at the convention or Legal Services of New Jersey. You can go to the court where your case was heard to confirm that your record was cleared and receive a certification. Find more details in Directive #24-21.

Expungement means the cannabis crimes are no longer part of your record, and it won’t end up on a job application, housing application, or college application. The case has been removed from the public record and cannot be used to keep you from school, housing, or most jobs.

The post Attorneys Offer Free Expungement Services at New Jersey Event appeared first on High Times.

The post Attorneys Offer Free Expungement Services at New Jersey Event appeared first on Paradise Found.

On the heels of his state’s landmark new law that legalizes psychedelic drugs, the governor of Colorado wants to go even further. 

Jared Polis, the Democrat who was elected to his second term as the state’s governor last year, said Wednesday that he wants Colorado lawmakers to empower him with the ability to issue pardons to individuals who have been busted for crimes related to psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms. 

“So anybody who has something on their criminal record that is now legal can have that expunged and doesn’t hold them back from future employment opportunities,” Polis said at the Psychedelic Science conference, which is being held in Denver this week, as quoted by Axios.

“It is still ridiculous that in this day and age somebody suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD can get medical coverage for very costly prescription drugs but cannot get coverage for a treatment in a healing center that will address some of the underlying causes of the issue,” the governor added.

Polis’s comments come less than a month after he signed a bill that will establish a regulatory framework for psychedelic drugs. The bill was the byproduct of last year’s voter-passed initiative, Proposition 122, and it will officially take effect on July 1.

The measure “legalized therapeutic psilocybin and decriminalized the personal cultivation, use and sharing of psilocybin mushrooms and three other natural psychedelics (DMT, ibogaine and mescaline that is not from peyote),” according to the local outlet Westworld.

“While licensed psilocybin therapy centers could open by late 2024, Prop 122 did not allow for the establishment of retail operations, only healing centers, so there won’t be mushroom stores popping up like the hundreds of cannabis dispensaries currently in Colorado,” Westworld reported last month.

Westworld, reporting this week at the Psychedelic Science conference, noted that Polis [who] “never publicly supported Prop 122 but has praised it since the measure passed, told the crowd that he has ‘no personal connection’ to psychedelic medicine,” but his support of psychedelic use is “values based” and about “body autonomy.”

“We are facing very difficult challenges in mental and behavioral health and are very excited about the opportunities,” Polis said, as quoted by Westworld. “In many of these areas, including cannabis, the people of our state, and not the politicians, led the way.”

The governor said at the conference that he envisions a significant expansion of the state’s psychedelic laws, including changes that would enable psychedelic therapy to be covered by insurance in Colorado.

“Yes, that’s right. People will no longer need to go to Mexico or Colombia. They can come right here to Colorado,” Polis said, as quoted by Westworld.

“Once it’s federally scheduled to be a pharmaceutical, it will immediately be rescheduled in Colorado,” the governor added. “We want people to say…Colorado got this right. Look, I’m sure we’ll get a few things wrong, but we can learn from them and build upon them.”

After a majority of Colorado voters approved Prop 122 in November, parts of the initiative took effect in December of last year. 

“Coloradans voted last November and participated in our democracy,” Polis said at the time. “Officially validating the results of the citizen and referred initiatives is the next formal step in our work to follow the will of the voters and implement these voter-approved measures.”

About 53% of voters in Colorado approved Proposition 122 in last year’s election.

Following Polis’s certification of the measure in December, psychedelics were officially decriminalized in Colorado. 

The post Colorado Governor Wants Pardons for Psychedelic Convictions appeared first on High Times.

The post Colorado Governor Wants Pardons for Psychedelic Convictions appeared first on Paradise Found.

The Louisiana House of Representatives recently passed a bill to improve the state’s expungement program for cannabis possession convictions. Rep. Delisha Boyd sponsored the bill, which passed with a 69-30 vote. “House Bill 286 is a request for a reduction in expungement fees in first offense marijuana. I’ve worked closely with the DA association, sheriffs, and the clerks, to put this bill in its proper posture,” Boyd said at the hearing on May 23.

The Louisiana House Democratic Caucus recently posted on social media about the bill’s passing as well. “This bill passed the House today and will make it easier for people to get the post-conviction relief and justice they need and deserve. #LaLege #LaGov.”

The bill was amended by House representatives, including the adoption of the proposed law that would only apply to 14 grams or less, and also stating that the fee would be set at a maximum of $300 for those convicted of misdemeanor offenses for cannabis possession.

According to the bill, these fees will be distributed immediately to the proper channels. “The clerk shall immediately direct the collected processing fees provided…to the sheriff and the district attorney, and the processing fee amount shall be remitted immediately upon receipt in equal proportions to the office of the district attorney and the sheriff’s general fund,” the bill states.

HB-286 is currently moving forward in the Senate. On May 24, it was read by title and placed on the calendar for a second reading, followed by a second reading on May 25 and a referral to the Committee on Judiciary C.

Another Louisiana bill was passed in a committee on May 23. According to Rep. Mandie Landry, House Bill 351 made it through the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, which is notorious for its reputation of making it difficult to pass bills through. “Nothing makes it out of the Labor Committee here,” said Landry, according to Fox8. “Not minimum wage, not employment protections…It’s really hard.” The bill strives to protect employees with medical cannabis cards by providing them with unemployment benefits if they were fired due testing positive for cannabis. 

HB-351 passed with a 6-5 vote, but the opposition voiced concern regarding the liability for employers if an employee is under the influence of cannabis while on the clock. One member said that the bill isn’t the right solution, arguing that it needs to be “very strongly vetted over a good period of time.”

Landry responded, arguing that a solution is needed now. “Medical marijuana is legal,” Landry said. “Every person has every right to question their employers or the state and say, ‘Why am I losing my job for using something that’s legal?’ This is a problem the state created.”

In April, two Sen. Stewart Cathey and Sen. Jay Morris claimed that they were misled when they voted to approve Senate Bill 219. “Last session we unknowingly created a recreational THC market in Louisiana,” Cathey said. “It was not the intent of the Legislature to authorize a statewide flood of unregulated THC psychoactive drug marketplace.”

“If we’re going to legalize [recreational THC], it needs to be done openly and honestly, which wasn’t done,” Morris explained. “It was sold to the Legislature as if we weren’t allowing psychoactive materials.” HB-351 hasn’t moved forward since Cathey and Morris made these statements.

Louisiana cannabis decriminalization went into effect along with 250 other laws in August 2021. Policy & advocacy director at Louisiana Progress, Peter Robins-Brown explained his hope for the future. “Marijuana decriminalization will truly make a difference in the lives of the people of our state,” said Robins-Brown. “It’s an important first step in modernizing marijuana policy in Louisiana, and it’s another milestone in the ongoing effort to address our incarceration crisis, which has trapped so many people in a cycle of poverty and prison. Now it’s time to make sure that everyone knows their rights under this new law, and that law enforcement officers understand how to properly implement it.”

The post Louisiana House of Representatives Passes Cannabis Expungement Bill appeared first on High Times.

The post Louisiana House of Representatives Passes Cannabis Expungement Bill appeared first on Paradise Found.