In a state where possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use is now legal, thousands of residents who were convicted of marijuana possession before the law changed will have their records cleared of those violations in the new year.
“Especially as Connecticut employers seek to fill hundreds of thousands of job openings," says Gov. Ned Lamont (D), "an old conviction for low-level cannabis possession should not hold someone back from pursuing their career, housing, professional, and educational aspirations.”
The governor's office says records in about 44,000 cases will be partially or fully erased. The changes take effect Jan. 1, and will occur automatically.
"For possession up to 4 ounces, it's automatically going to be erased off your record," explains Hartford attorney DeVaughn Ward, senior legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project. "You don't have to do anything, you don't have to go into court, you don't have to hire a lawyer, or petition the court-- it's automatically going to be done for you without any action on your part."
Ward says the expungements will be life-altering for many:
"For some folks, this stain on their record being lifted is certainly an opportunity to have a new way of life. It's a second chance and a second opportunity... for a lot of folks."