Cleveland wipes out cannabis convictions

Cleveland city officials have filed motions to vacate the cannabis convictions of more than 4,000 people. The convictions relate to possession of 20 grams or less and date from 2017. If possession of cannabis is considered a minor offence, it does not result in a criminal record.

Located in Ohio, cannabis remains illegal in Cleaveland. However, like everywhere in the US, the laws are blurring and turning gray. In 2020, the Cleveland City Council effectively decriminalized cannabis, paving the way for the overturning of cannabis convictions.

While federal and state laws still apply, there is no local penalty for possession of cannabis under 200 grams in the city of Cleveland. Local legislation ensured that low-level cannabis convictions had no criminal record. Nor are convicts required to disclose these charges when applying for jobs or licenses.

Ohio’s Road to Legalization

Cleveland wipes out cannabis convictions

Cleveland isn’t the only Ohio city to decriminalize small amounts of cannabis. From large metropolises like Columbus and Cincinnati to cities with 500 inhabitants like Trimble or Adena. If you are caught with less than 200 grams, there is no misdemeanor charge. And now, Cleveland residents have the option to erase their cannabis records.

“This is the natural progression of what we (in the Council) wanted to see; Decriminalize first, then have records wiped,” a councilor said in a statement.

“We are seeing progress on this issue in Washington, but progress is slow. There are immediate steps we can take now in Cleveland to clear the names of over 4,000 residents who deserve a fresh start,” said Cleveland Mayor Bibb. “This is just one way we can make progress on criminal justice reform to balance the scales and remove barriers to employment and re-entry.”

How the Overturning of Cannabis Convictions Works

Applications will be decided on a case-by-case basis. The presiding judges will hold hearings to make their decisions. The intention is to review the deletions of cannabis convictions prior to 2017.

Morgan Fox, a Cleveland native and policy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said in a statement:

“As a person who was arrested for cannabis as a young adult, I have seen firsthand how it can limit opportunity and stigmatize people for the rest of their lives, as well as the appalling racial disparities that both enforce and persist condemnation. I’m really proud that my hometown is working to repair the damage caused by Prohibition while the rest of the state is considering making adult-use cannabis legal this year.”

footnote(s)

https://www.clevelandcitycouncil.org/resources/news-media/cleveland-files-motion-expunge-over-4000-marijuana-records
https://norml.org/blog/2022/04/07/ohio-cleveland-officials-move-to-expunge-over-4000-low-level-marijuana-convictions/

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