In a landmark decision, Massachusetts became the first state to implement a blanket pardon for low-level marijuana possession charges, setting a new bar for how states address past drug offenses in the wake of changing laws around cannabis use. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the sweeping action, which will impact potentially hundreds of thousands of individuals previously charged with simple pot possession.
As per Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, the Governor’s Council chair, the vote by the council implies that individuals who were charged with a misdemeanor offense of marijuana possession prior to March 13 of this year will have their charges cleared immediately. “The exciting thing is, no one is required to take any additional action, they are pardoned, effective with the Governor’s Council vote,” Driscoll told reporters after the council’s approval of the plan.
Individuals who have a misdemeanor offense on their criminal record have the option to apply for a certificate of pardon from the state, although it is not mandatory. Over the next few weeks, the state’s court systems will be updated to reflect that previous charges related to marijuana possession have been officially pardoned.
However, this measure raises questions about its scope and sufficiency. Councilor Terrence Kennedy pointed out that while pardoned, these convictions will still appear on criminal records, “It’s still going to say that they were convicted of possession of marijuana and then pardoned.” Kennedy also questioned whether the state should instead offer expungement, which would remove the conviction from records entirely, a suggestion with which Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden did not disagree.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts embraced the council’s decision, citing the significance of the action for communities disproportionately affected by past marijuana laws. Carol Rose, the organization’s executive director, stated, “People in every community across the state – especially Black and Brown people, who were disproportionately charged with marijuana-related crimes over the years – will no longer be punished for something that is now legal in our state.”
Currently, in Massachusetts, it is permissible to possess one ounce of cannabis and up to five grams of any concentrate outside of one’s residence. This includes various marijuana products such as gummies. Additionally, adults are allowed to cultivate up to six marijuana plants within their own homes.
“Massachusetts made history today,” Healey, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Thousands of Massachusetts residents will now see their records cleared of this charge, which will help lower the barriers they face when seeking housing, education or a job.”
The legal and societal implications of this pardon are broad and signal a potential domino effect as other states consider how to reconcile the changes in marijuana legislation with past convictions. This historic pardon in Massachusetts marks a significant move toward reforming the criminal justice system in the era of legal cannabis.
Relevant articles:
– Massachusetts becomes first state to blanket pardon low-level marijuana charges
– Governor’s Council OK’s pardoning people with marijuana possession convictions, Boston.com, Wed, 03 Apr 2024 21:10:00 GMT
– Massachusetts Governor Announces Blanket Pardons For Pot Convictions, Forbes, Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT
– Mass. Gov. Maura Healey issues ‘sweeping’ pardons for cannabis possession, MassLive.com, Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:06:00 GMT