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cross the country, communities and states are making social justice efforts in an attempt to reform a system on which new light has been shined in recent years. Among those efforts is the move to expunge minor misdemeanor marijuana convictions. Cleveland officials are hoping city judges will do so with more than 4,000 such cases.
According to Mayor Justin Bibb, the move "gives folks all across the city and across this region a second chance at getting a good job and the quality of life that they deserve."
In addition, the city is asking for cases to be expunged for the 455 people mistakenly prosecuted after the passage of a 2020 city law calling for no fines or jail time for those caught with less than 7 ounces of marijuana.
Such a fresh start could mean the world to those who would no longer have to report their records on job or license applications. Because data shows drug enforcement policy has historically unequally affected minorities, that fresh start could be especially important.
Cleveland is not alone. Nearly 500,000 criminal records in Illinois were automatically cleared of minor pot convictions from 2013-19 after marijuana was legalized in the state in 2020. Birmingham, Ala., issued a blanket pardon to 15,000 people in April 2021 who had been convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses.
While Ohio has legalized medical marijuana sales, it is not yet legal for recreational use. Still, Cleveland officials are on the right track to try to give a hand up to the thousands who perhaps cannot afford to go through the expungement process.