Virtual Session Offered Tuesday On Expunging ‘Minor Cannabis’ Crimes

ILLINOIS — If a past minor cannabis conviction is holding you back from getting a job, a loan or a lease, New Leaf Illinois is hosting a virtual session on expungement at 10 a.m. CT Tuesday, April 11.

The session will offer an update on expungements as part of the legalization of cannabis in Illinois leading into the 4/20 marijuana “holiday.”

Three years have passed since cannabis was legalized in Illinois and central part of the 2020 law as to advance racial justice and correct the disproportionate impact that previous marijuana criminalization had on Black and Brown communities.

With support from the Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Equal Justice Foundation created New Leaf Illinois, a network of legal aid organizations providing free or low-cost expungement support in every part of the state. The panel at Tuesday’s virtual session includes:

• State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (Dist. 92)
• Erin Johnson, Acting Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer (CROO)
• Leslie Corbett, executive director, Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
• Beth Johnson, IEJF project manager, New Leaf Illinois
• Regina Hernandez, supervising attorney, Legal Aid Chicago
• Daniel Kuehnert, senior staff attorney, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, Alton Office

New Leaf Illinois has a form that citizens with past marijuana convictions can complete a form to find out if they are eligible for expungement of their criminal records. Once the form is processed, a legal aid professional will evaluate the applicant’s eligibility and get in touch with them about potential next steps. Depending on eligibility and needs, services can include free legal information, self-help instruction, document review and preparation, legal consultation, and if available, referrals to a network of legal aid and pro bono attorneys for in court representation.

Individuals may qualify for automatic expungement of police records if they were an adult when arrested for a “minor cannabis offense,” for possession or dealing of 30 grams or less of marijuana before June 25, 2019. Also, it must be at least one year since the person’s arrest. There must not have been charges filed in court, or, the charges must have been dismissed or vacated, or you were acquitted.

People who were convicted of a “minor cannabis offense” for 30 grams or less, their record may still be expunged automatically, but the process takes longer.

The record will go to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. The PRB can then recommend that the governor grant a “pardon authorizing expungement.” If the governor does this, the Illinois Attorney General will file a petition in the county where you were convicted to have the record expunged.

For other possession or dealing convictions, if your conviction was for possession of 500 grams or less, or dealing of less than 30 grams, you can still have your record expunged. Eligibility for filing a motion to vacate and expunge, depends on the date of conviction.

To attend Tuesday’s virtual session, email eden.erickson@jptr.com.

For more information regarding expungement, visit New Leaf Illinois or call 855-963-9532 to answer simple questions needed to review your cannabis case.

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