On September 1, Governor Tom Wolf and Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman announced the Pennsylvania Marijuana Pardon Project. The pardon project is a coordinated effort for a one-time, large-scale pardoning for people convicted of minor and non-violent marijuana offenses in Pennsylvania.
Those who have been convicted of possession of marijuana or possession of a small amount for personal use can now apply for pardon, which will represent complete forgiveness for convictions. However, there is a deadline for the applications as the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons will only accept them from September 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022.
Why Is The Pardon Needed?
Wolf and Fetterman have advocated for the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Pennsylvania for quite some time now. Lawmakers only legalized medical marijuana in April of 2016, then it became available to patients in February 2018. Fetterman embarked on a 98-day tour back in 2019, where he visited each of the state’s 67 counties. He held town hall meetings on legalization, which led him to estimate that about 70% of residents support continued marijuana reform.
During the announcement, Governor Wolf spoke about how he has called on the Republican-led General Assembly numerous times to support the legalization of adult-use marijuana, but they have yet to fulfill this request which not only comes from him, but Pennsylvanians as well. He further stated that “Until they do, I am committed to everything in my power to support Pennsylvanians who have been adversely affected by a minor marijuana offense on their record.”
The pardon project can potentially help thousands of Pennsylvanians eligible for it to gain housing, employment, higher education and other services that may have been impossible due to the minor offenses on their records.
What Does The Application Process Entail?
In order to apply for a pardon through the program, residents must have one or both of these convictions: Possession of Marijuana (Title 35 Section 780-113 Subsection A3) or Marijuana, Small Amount Personal Use (Title 35 Section 780-113 Subsection A31I) in Pennsylvania. There is no limit on the age of conviction, but people who have additional convictions on their record are not eligible for this program. Instead, they can apply for clemency.
To utilize the online application, residents must create a keystone account and then input the necessary details. Applicants will then need only to fill out and submit the online form at mjpardon.pa.gov.
After submission, the Board of Pardons will complete a merit review. The board members will vote to send applications to pardon during a public hearing, held in mid-December this year. Gov. Wolf will be responsible for issuing the pardons.
When granted pardon, residents will receive documentation which will also include a signed letter by the secretary of the Board of Pardon and a charter of the pardon with the official commonwealth seal, which the governor and state secretary will sign. It is important to note that the pardon does not mean that residents have a clear record. It acts only as forgiveness for the convictions. For expungement of convictions from their record, residents will have to petition the court.
Why Is The Application Window Only One Month?
The end of the application window is quickly approaching. State officials are expecting thousands of applications based on the estimated number of Pennsylvania residents eligible for pardon. They aim to process as many applications as possible before Wolf’s term concludes.
The Pennsylvania Marijuana Pardon project can potentially change many people’s lives for the better Without convictions standing in their way, they can do all the things that seemed impossible for them. However, the burden seems to only lie with the individual when the state or federal government could implement a process for pardon and expungement that does not heavily rely on that or is available for a limited time.
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