Pennsylvania Launches Pardon Process for Marijuana Convictions

A new program launched by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in September offers anyone with a conviction for possession of marijuana or a small amount for personal use the opportunity to wipe the conviction from their record.

Pennsylvania Launches Pardon Process for Marijuana Convictions

A new program launched by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in September, called the Pennsylvania Marijuana Pardon Project, has already opened its doors to applications from more than 2,500 Pennsylvanians with minor, nonviolent marijuana criminal convictions ahead of its September 30 deadline, reports Marley Parish for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

Anyone with a conviction for possession of marijuana or a small amount for personal use to apply is eligible to apply. There is no age requirement.

While a pardon grants complete forgiveness, those pardoned will still need to petition the court for an expungement of the conviction from their record. Officials estimate that thousands of people are eligible to apply for a pardon for decades-old convictions. Applying is free and available online.

“Good people are being held back from living their best lives because of some old nonviolent weed charge,” Fetterman said.

“Now is the time to apply because we have no idea how long the Legislature will continue refusing common sense legalization.”