News: Bipartisan Congressional Lawmakers File Bills To Seal Federal Marijuana Records And Assist States In Facilitating Expungements.

Published 12:00 AM EST, Fri May 02, 2025

The bill would establish a new process for people to petition the courts for record sealing for non-violent offenses that aren’t eligible for automatic sealing. They could repetition for relief after two years if the court denied their initial request.

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A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, including Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL), has reintroduced two legislative proposals—the Clean Slate Act and the Fresh Start Act—focused on criminal justice reform for individuals with certain non-violent federal marijuana offenses. These bills aim to automatically seal such records and support states in building infrastructure to do the same for state-level convictions. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is a leading GOP cosponsor, underscoring the bipartisan nature of the effort, which the sponsors describe as a rare convergence of diverse political and regional interests.

The Clean Slate Act specifically mandates the automatic sealing of criminal records for select non-violent marijuana convictions and provides relief for those arrested but not convicted. It also sets up a petition process for other non-violent offenses not eligible for automatic sealing, with a provision for court-appointed defenders for indigent individuals. Meanwhile, the Fresh Start Act offers federal funding to states that implement automated expungement systems and restricts that funding for states that delay record sealing over unpaid fines. Additionally, it requires demographic reporting on expunged records to ensure transparency and accountability.

The reintroduction of these bills comes amid ongoing advocacy for broader clemency and criminal justice reform at the executive level. Recent actions include meetings between pardoned activists and the White House, as well as events held by individuals previously granted clemency, who are calling for similar action from the current administration. These efforts highlight a growing push for systemic change in how marijuana-related offenses are treated legally and socially. Expunging or sealing criminal records related to non-violent marijuana offenses reduces barriers to employment and housing, thereby enabling more individuals to participate in the legal cannabis economy. This also supports efforts to diversify the industry and foster restorative justice for communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. Furthermore, by facilitating state-level expungement systems, the legislation complements broader cannabis legalization trends, potentially easing transitions to legal markets and aligning federal and state policies. For cannabis businesses and advocates, these reforms represent a crucial step toward normalizing the industry and addressing its historical inequities. Source: Marijuana Moment