Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced a plan on December 6 to expunge the records of thousands of residents who possess low-level marijuana offenses.
This is an important component of the Connecticut Adult Use of Marijuana Act signed by Lamont in June 2021.
According to the announcement from Lamont, records of approximately 44,000 cases will be fully or partially deleted via an automated process in January.
Thanks to the marijuana legalization law we passed last year, thousands of low-level marijuana convictions in Connecticut will automatically be expunged on January 1," said Governor Lamont in a public statement. "In particular, as Connecticut employers try to fill hundreds of thousands of open positions, outdated beliefs about holding low-level marijuana should not be a barrier to pursuing one's career, housing, professional, and educational aspirations.
How individuals can have their records deleted depends on when they were convicted. According to the announcement from Lamont, convictions will be handled in the following manner:
Convictions for possessing non-narcotic and non-hallucinogenic substances weighing four ounces or less that were in violation of CGS § 21a-279(c) between January 1, 2000 and September 30, 2015 will automatically be expunged on January 1, 2023. Those protected by this law do not need to take any action to make these convictions eligible for removal.
Submitting a request letter to the High Court can eliminate the conviction for the following violations:
Individuals who were convicted of possessing marijuana-related substances equal to or less than four ounces between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2021, as well as those convicted of possessing marijuana drug paraphernalia with intent to use prior to July 1, 2021, are eligible to have their records cleared under Connecticut's CGS § 21a-279 and CGS §21a-267(a), respectively. Additionally, convictions involving producing, selling, possessing with intent to sell, giving to someone else, or managing marijuana-related substances that involved quantities less than four ounces or growing up to six plants for personal use in one's own home prior to July 1, 2021, are also eligible for clearing under CGS §21a-277(b). The criminal justice agencies under Connecticut's judicial and executive departments are working towards implementing necessary technology upgrades to automatically clear eligible records through the Clean Slate automatic expungement system, which is expected to be fully implemented by halfway through next year's second phase, according to the announcement made by Lamont.
Meanwhile, the launch of the commercial adult-use marijuana market in Connecticut, which was initially expected to happen by the end of this year, is now scheduled for early 2023.
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