Illinois Governor Signs Bill To Close Marijuana Expungement ‘Loophole’
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The governor of Illinois recently signed a bill that would make it so courts cannot deny petitions to expunge or seal records based on a positive drug test for marijuana. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the legislation, sponsored by Rep. Carol Ammons (D) and Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D) in their respective chambers, late last month. It advanced through the legislature in April. The measure will revise the state’s Criminal Identification Act to stipulate that courts “shall not deny a petition for expungement or sealing because the petitioner has submitted a drug test taken within 30 days before the filing of the petition for expungement or sealing that indicates a positive test for the presence of cannabis within the petitioner’s body,” a synopsis says. “People looking to correct their criminal record should not be stopped from meaningfully participating in society because of a positive drug test for cannabis,” Collins said in a press release. “We have to stop treating its use as grounds for dismissal with respect to jobs and petition-filing.” .@senatorjacqui Collins’ measure removing prohibitions against cannabis users becomes law https://t.co/MF5Bh5P2ka pic.twitter.com/wK297NdZOX — IL Senate Democrats (@ILSenDems) June 3, 2022 “People deserve second chances, and it is important that we afford this opportunity to those whose circumstances may have led them to crime,” the Senate sponsor said. “This legislation is especially meaningful for our communities of color, who face disproportionate disparities in the criminal justice system.” Ammons previously said the measure is “exciting step forward in closing the existing loopholes that still criminalize Illinoisans for using cannabis years after its legalization.” The new law takes effect on January 1, 2023. The governor previously took pride in announcing that more than 500,000 expungements and pardons had been processed for people with low-level marijuana offenses on their records in late 2020. Still,…

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Source : Illinois Governor Signs Bill To Close Marijuana Expungement ‘Loophole’

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