New Bipartisan Bill Proposes Expungement For Federal Cannabis Misdemeanor Offenses
In a re-run of a bill that didn’t make it through Congress two years ago, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) have re-introduced the bipartisan Marijuana Misdemeanor Expungement Act.
“No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana. This bipartisan bill will restore justice to millions of Americans who have suffered excessive secondary consequences associated with marijuana-related misdemeanors,” stated Rep. Carter. He emphasized that these misdemeanors, even without a conviction, can significantly impact individuals’ lives, restricting access to educational aid, housing assistance, occupational licensing and even foster parenting.
Addressing The Impact
The bill arrives at a time when 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia have legal medical or recreational cannabis laws (or both). Despite these legal changes at the state level, federal misdemeanors for cannabis continue to affect many Americans, even if they were already pardoned, which has happened both at federal and state levels in places such as Massachusetts and Maryland.
“Records matter and carrying a low-level non-criminal petty offense on a record could heavily impact a person’s way of life from sustaining employment to applying to new opportunities,” said Rep. Armstrong. He highlighted that the act aims to give non-violent petty marijuana offenders a second chance after their sentences are complete, removing barriers to reentry and promoting a more equitable society.
Recent Developments And Support
The introduction of this bill follows …