The seven-bill package includes provisions expunging certain marijuana convictions
LANSING – The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MiCIA), applauds the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and Chairman Graham Filler for their work, support, and effort passing the package of expungement bills out of committee today. Their action and this legislation are a necessary first step to ensuring a more fair and just judicial system in the state, and one which allows thousands of hard-working Michiganders to get back on their feet without the fear of past convictions barring them from employment, housing and other opportunities.
“We attempted to include expungement when we placed adult-use legalization on the ballot but were unable to do so due to the single subject rule,” said MiCIA Executive Director Robin Schneider. “We promised our supporters we would continue working on expungement and are incredibly grateful to the House Judiciary Committee and sponsors for helping us keep that promise.”
While the seven-bill package, House Bills (HB) 4980-4985 and HB 5120, expands the state’s criminal expungement system, with bills which would allow for automatic expungement of certain convictions, (HB) 4982 and 5120 addresses marijuana convictions specifically. The bill would allow a person convicted of one or more marijuana offenses to ask the court to set aside the misdemeanor offenses if the person was convicted of a marijuana crime that would now be legal following the legalization of adult-use marijuana in the state in 2018.
“Prohibition disproportionately affected communities of color,” Schneider continued. “This package is the first step in righting that wrong and setting aside convictions for petty crimes involving something Michigan voters overwhelmingly agreed should be legal.”
The full package would open up most traffic convictions to expungement, expands the number of felonies and misdemeanors eligible for expungement, treats multiple felonies from one incident as one felony, and shortens the expungement application waiting period.