New Bipartisan Bill Proposes Automatic Sealing of Federal Marijuana Convictions

WASHINGTON, DC – A bill has been introduced by congressional lawmakers from both parties requiring criminal records of non-violent federal marijuana convictions to be sealed, Marijuana Moment reports.

The Clean Slate Act was reintroduced by Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) last week. The bill also provides assistance to those who have been apprehended for different cannabis-related crimes but were not found guilty.

A cannabis conviction can have a significant impact on someone’s life. It can lead to difficulties in finding employment, obtaining housing, and even result in the loss of certain professional licenses. Additionally, a conviction can limit one’s access to financial aid for education and restrict their right to vote.

“With 9 in 10 employers conducting background checks, 4 in 5 landlords, and 3 in 5 universities doing the same, we know just how critical it is to give those who have served their time and paid their debt to society a clean slate and a second chance,” said Blunt Rochester in a recentpresss release.

We know how critical it is to give those who have served their time and paid their debt to society a clean slate and a second chance.

That’s why I’m proud to be introducing the bipartisan Clean Slate Act, one of the bills included in my #JOBSAgenda, w/ @RepNancyMace today. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/3mM7T30rDN

— Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (@RepLBR) April 27, 2023

Under the proposed bill,  individuals would be able to request the courts to seal the records of their non-violent crimes that are not qualified for automatic sealing. If their first appeal is dismissed, they can file another petition for relief after two years.

“This measure will enable companies like JPMorgan Chase, where about 10 percent of our new hires annually in the US have previous records with no bearing on their roles, continue to connect individuals to meaningful career pathways, opening doors to opportunity that transform lives, lift up communities and strengthen the economy,” says executive director of the JPMorgan Chase Policy Center, Nan Gibson.

This marks the most recent of a series of bills related to marijuana reform that have been presented in the 118th Congress.

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