Rosen Introduces Legislation to Help Expunge or Seal Marijuana Convictions in States Where Cannabis is Legal
Bill Would Create Program To Cover Costs Of Expunging or Sealing Cannabis Offenses In States Like Nevada Where Marijuana Has Been Legalized Or Decriminalized
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced the Harnessing Opportunity by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act to help expunge cannabis convictions in states where it has been legalized or decriminalized by establishing a new federal grant program to cover the costs of these expungements or sealing of records. The funding can be used to update record-keeping technology, automate the expungement process, support legal clinics that assist individuals through the expungement process, and to seal records of conviction for marijuana offenses…
“The Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act is a key piece of legislation that will provide states and localities the resources they need to implement automated expungement or record sealing processes for cannabis offenses,” said Anthony Lamorena, Senior Manager of Federal Affairs at the R Street Institute. “This bill provides a second chance for the millions of Americans who have cannabis arrests or convictions and restores their access to education, employment, housing, and other resources they need to remain law-abiding. Studies show that access to these life necessities provides the much-needed support to remain crime-free, which allows them to contribute to society and the economy. Our communities are safer and our economy is stronger when individuals no longer face the pervasive barriers of a criminal record. For these reasons, we at the R Street Institute are happy to endorse the HOPE Act, and we applaud Sen. Rosen (D-NV) on her bipartisan leadership to tackle this important issue.”
Additionally, Senator Rosen’s HOPE Act is endorsed by NORML, Americans for Prosperity, and the Last Prisoner Project.
Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for cannabis reform in Congress. Last year, Senator Rosen helped introduce the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act to ensure that legal cannabis businesses have access to banking and insurance services. She also applauded the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation of easing marijuana restrictions, an important step towards rescheduling marijuana. Last Congress, Senator Rosen introduced the Fair Access for Cannabis Small Business Act to ensure that legally-operating cannabis small businesses have equal access to loans and programs provided by the Small Business Administration.