Alaska lawmakers this week passed legislation that will shield people’s marijuana conviction records from being publicly released in certain circumstances.
The cannabis provisions are included in a large package of criminal justice legislation that cleared the Senate in a 20-0 vote on Tuesday and was approved by the House of Representatives 39-1 on Wednesday. HB 239 now heads to the desk of Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R).
If enacted into law, the bill will make it so people who were convicted of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana while over 21 years of age at the time of the offense can request that their records not be released. The protections only apply to people who were not convicted of any other criminal charges in the relevant case.
The requirement for someone to proactively request that their records not be released in order for them to remain sealed will be sunsetted on January 1, 2028.
The cannabis reform that is now part of the omnibus criminal justice legislation heading to the governor was originally introduced as a standalone bill, HB 81 from Rep. David Nelson (R).
“In 2014, the state of Alaska voted to legalize the cultivation, sale, and recreational use
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