​Now that marijuana is legal and adult use license applications are flooding the State, it's well past time to expunge the records of Mainers who were once convicted under Prohibition. The Legislature can act to seal the records and the Governor has the authority to formally expunge those records, and both need to start working to address this issue. By doing so, we can transform the lives of thousands of people overnight.

Let's be clear, a drug conviction of any kind prevents an individual from getting federal student loans or federal housing - FOR LIFE. By sealing or expunging past records of marijuana use/possession (that would now be legal), people can sign up to attend college for the first time which puts them onto a career path. Or, folks who are homeless due to mental health issues or addiction - but can't get housing because of a marijuana conviction - could now come in off the streets.

Ending Marijuana Prohibition was always about criminal justice reform. By redressing the lifetime impact of these non-violent convictions - that would be legal today - we can have a transformative impact.

By rejecting a bill for the coming session regarding marijuana expungements, the Legislative Council fails to recognize the unique harm marijuana Prohibition intentionally inflicted on black communities. By failing to redress that impact, the Council is then complicit in its perpetuation.

Please reconsider the motion and vote to allow the bill to move forward - and then champion that bill into law so we can all move on from an Era of Oppression.