PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Applications are now open for individuals in Pennsylvania who want to quickly get their non-violent marijuana conviction off their record.
The Marijuana Pardon Project allows people with certain minor marijuana convictions on their record to get them removed.
"A lot of people who have marijuana convictions, no matter the size of the conviction, are hindered from all kinds of things, whether it's a job, education, access to grants, loans, being able to chaperone their kids on a field trip,” said Pennsylvania Board of Pardons Secretary Celeste Trusty.
"We need to really be looking at how we can look at this as a fairness effort. How we can look at making sure that the people who have been the most targeted and harmed through this process and the war on drugs are able to get a leg up and get that second chance?"
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She adds that people are eligible if they have convictions for either possession of marijuana or marijuana in small amounts for personal use, with no other serious conviction.
Applications are due by Sept. 30.
"Usually the pardons and the commutation process can take years, and we're looking to really get as many people pardoned in the next couple of months as possible,” Trusty said.
"Our goal here is to get as many people with qualifying marijuana convictions pardoned by Gov. Tom Wolf before he leaves office by mid-January."
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She said that a merit review board decides in October if those who qualify can get a public hearing. Those hearings are scheduled for December.
The board sends recommendations for a pardon to Gov. Wolf, who can then issue the pardon. A pardon means complete forgiveness for a conviction, but a petition to a court would need to happen to get the conviction completely expunged.
People who don't qualify for this specific pardon process can use other existing programs that allow people with broader convictions to apply for a pardon.