A council in Massachusetts endorsed Governor Maura Healey's proposal to pardon tens of thousands of individuals convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses dating back decades.
The pardons approved by the Governor's Council will take immediate effect, though updating state criminal records will require some time, officials noted.
"Massachusetts made history today," remarked Healey, a Democrat, in a statement. "Thousands of Massachusetts residents will now have their records cleared of these charges, which will alleviate the obstacles they face when pursuing housing, education, or employment."
These pardons will extend to all adults convicted in state court prior to March 13 for possession of marijuana or a 'Class D substance.' Healey emphasized that most individuals will not need to take any action to update their criminal records. The state has also established an online platform for requesting certificates verifying marijuana pardons.
Healey, a former state attorney general, described these pardons as the most comprehensive since President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of individuals with federal marijuana possession convictions in December and urged governors to follow suit. She highlighted that the pardons will encompass arrests dating as far back as the 1970s during the war on drugs and earlier.
A pardon essentially represents gubernatorial forgiveness for a conviction but does not automatically seal or expunge criminal records.
Healey framed the pardons as a matter of justice, underscoring that thousands of individuals continue to carry marijuana convictions on their records despite the state's decriminalization of personal possession in 2008 and legalization of recreational marijuana in 2016.
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