Arizona Launches Much-Needed Marijuana Convictions Destruction Program 1

Arizona residents with low marijuana convictions can have their records deleted as part of a state deletion program launched this week. The judgments for minor cannabis convictions will be passed under Proposition 207, the 2020 voting initiative to legalize marijuana for adults, approved by 60 percent of the state’s electorate.

Julie Gunnigle, the political director of the Arizona chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, said Tuesday, the first day a deletion is requested, is a historic day for the state.

“Today is a day that will go down in Arizona history because Arizona has or has not had any deletions until 12:01 am this morning,” said Gunnigle, adding, “A deletion is a real clearing of one’s criminal history and records Person, and Arizona remains one of the most heavily incarcerated states in the nation. “

Under the program, individuals convicted of possessing, transporting, or consuming 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana, of which no more than 12.5 grams can be a cannabis concentrate or extract, can have their records deleted. Persons convicted of owning, cultivating, processing or transporting up to six cannabis plants at their main residence are also eligible to apply. Enforcements can also be pronounced for convictions for the possession, use or transport of utensils in connection with the consumption, cultivation and processing of marijuana.

Those who are eligible for deletion must apply to the court to delete their files. Aid is also being given to several organizations, including the cannabis advocacy group Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM), which runs extermination clinics as part of its Project Clean Slate initiative.

“We provided information, training, and resources this spring to anticipate the joy of this day for Arizona,” said Danielle Butler, program director, Project Clean Slate. “This is a historic moment that will undoubtedly change the course of life, negatively impacted by today’s multi-billion dollar industry. The sleepless nights are worth the dawn of justice. “

Annihilation in Arizona: Maricopa County takes the lead in the annihilation

In Maricopa County, prosecutors have taken the lead in getting cannabis legalized as mandated by the population through Proposition 207. Following the November 2020 election, the Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office began moving charges dismissal on pending cases under the initiative. as a result, more than 5,000 charges have already been dropped or their release is pending. And last month, the county prosecutors announced that they would support those requesting deletion as part of the successful election.

“I believe that the will of the voters should be implemented as efficiently as possible,” said Allister Adel, prosecutor for Maricopa County at the time. “My office has been working for months to find a system to help individuals who want their criminal records to be cleared by law. On July 12, my office is expected to be proactive in submitting over 6,900 mandatory sentence waiver requests. ”

Jason Kalish, division chief for the Maricopa County District Attorney, said help for those eligible for deletion is available in many forms.

“Whatever you feel comfortable, whether you fill it out yourself, come to our website, or one of these organizations, the law is here to help,” Kalish said.

“We don’t want people to have to pay money to hire a lawyer to submit something that should be free,” he added.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has already received approximately 200 requests for deletion, of which approximately 80 percent are eligible for relief under the program. Kalish pointed out that overturning convictions for minor offenses can have a positive impact on the lives of offenders involved, who often struggle to find work, housing and public services.

“This condemnation has a secondary consequence, [it] A background check of what you have appears on a job application. We will try to help these people in the first place, ”said Kalish.

While the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has taken a proactive role in enforcing the Restorative Justice provisions of Proposition 207, NORML’s Gunnigle noted that this is not the case in all Arizona counties.

“This is a first opportunity to make amends for the damage the war on drugs has wrought. Our prosecutors have the ability to do this universally and automatically. You decide against it, ”said Gunnigle. “Today we celebrate, but we also continue to work.”