Ohio lawmakers on Thursday morning sent the governor a large-scale criminal justice reform bill that contains provisions to protect people from having criminal records for arrests or convictions over simple possession of marijuana paraphernalia. It also includes measures clearing a path for people to have convictions for cannabis possession and other offenses sealed and expunged.
Under the comprehensive measure from Sen. Nathan Manning (R), misdemeanor cannabis paraphernalia possession cases would “not constitute a criminal record,” nor would they need to be disclosed “in response to any inquiries about the person’s criminal record.”
The bill, which now heads to the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine (R), covers a wide range of issues, including sentencing reform for people in prison and criminal records expungements.
The legislation would maintain that cannabis possession is considered a minor misdemeanor offense—but it would provide a pathway for sealing the record from public view after six months and expunging the conviction altogether after three years, according to the sponsor.
The Ohio House today passed Senate Bill 288 by a vote of 79-7. pic.twitter.com/2HQIpLaDPk
— Ohio House GOP (@OHRGOPCaucus) December 15, 2022
There would be a fee of generally not more than $50 to obtain the record relief,
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