420 with CNW — Rhode Island Completes 23K Mariju
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Rhode Island’s judicial system has successfully expunged more than 23,000 records related to marijuana possession, marking the completion of the initial phase of marijuana relief as mandated by the state’s legalization law and the Supreme Court’s executive order. According to a recent press release issued by the judiciary, the Superior Court expunged 3,015 cases, while the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal and the District Court expunged 9,952 and 10,650 cases, respectively.
This automated relief effort was a collaborative endeavor between law enforcement and the courts following the state’s implementation of recreational cannabis legalization last year. In January, Paul Suttell, the state’s chief justice, released an executive order outlining the process for mass expungements.
Acknowledging the organizational accomplishment, Julie Hamil, the state’s court administrator, expressed her thoughts on the matter, stating, “The expungement of cannabis charges has been a remarkable feat. Every section of the judiciary has worked together to ensure timely and comprehensive execution of this process.”
The second phase of the expungement procedure will focus on clearing marijuana possession records in situations involving multiple criminal charges. Currently, this phase is in the planning stage and is expected to be complete by July next year.
Mavis Nimoh, executive director of the Center for Health and Justice Transformation, expressed appreciation for the state judiciary’s prompt implementation of the automatic expungement of marijuana offenses. She emphasized the pressing need for reasonable criminal record relief programs, particularly as the state enters a booming economy that has for too long unfairly penalized its inhabitants.
Under the executive order issued by the court, people may also apply for accelerated expungements. The court will waive the associated fees for these requests, and they will be processed within five working days.
In recent years, several territories and states have taken steps to offer relief to individuals with previous marijuana convictions. For instance, the Louisiana senate recently passed a bill streamlining expungements for those with first-time cannabis possession offenses, while Ohio’s governor signed a major reform bill allowing cities to expedite mass expungements for specific drug-related offenses, such as possession of up to 200g of cannabis.
A NORML report released last year revealed that state governments have granted almost 2 million expungements and pardons to individuals with minor marijuana convictions in recent years. Meanwhile, a senate committee recently confirmed the nominees made by Governor Dan McKee to a state cannabis commission, which will be in charge of regulating the legal cannabis industry. A house committee has also approved a bill that would permit the production and possession of psilocybin mushrooms while also setting the stage for controlled access for medical purposes until federal reform is implemented.
As the recreational market becomes established and grows in the state, there is likely to be a bigger market for all sorts of products, including those made by Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), as businesses move to address the growing demand for cannabis.
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