United States: bill introduced to encourage cannabis-related amnesties

As congressional lawmakers strive to advancing the legalization of cannabis at the federal level, a bipartisan duo introduced a bill Thursday that would encourage state and local governments to eliminate cannabis-related criminal records in their jurisdictions.

Republican Representative Dave Joyce and Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are sponsoring the legislation, titled Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act.

It would encourage states to provide relief to those convicted of non-violent cannabis offenses through federal grants - the State Expungement Opportunity Grant Program, The bill proposes to allocate $2 million in funding to the program for each fiscal year from 2023 to 2032. The bill proposes to appropriate $2 million to fund the program for each fiscal year from 2023 through 2032.

More specifically, subsidies could be used by states to purchase the technology used to facilitate large-scale amnesties, These include automating the process, funding legal clinics to help people advance their cases, and supporting «innovative partnerships» to deliver mass amnesty.

«Having been both a public defender and prosecutor, I've seen firsthand how violations of cannabis law can deprive a lifetime of opportunities ranging from employment to education to housing,» Dave Joyce said in a press release. «The collateral damage caused by these missed opportunities is woefully underestimated and has impacted entire families, communities and regional economies.»

Goes to show that lawmakers don't have to agree on everything to find common ground on solutions to the challenges facing everyday Americans. https://t.co/lqWmY6uoKH

- Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) December 2, 2021

«By helping states establish and improve expungement programs for minor cannabis offenses, the HOPE Act will pave the way for expanded economic opportunities to thrive alongside effective investments to repair the consequences of the war on drugs,» said the congressman.

Ocasio-Cortez stated that «as we continue to advocate for the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, this bipartisan bill will provide localities with the resources they need to expunge the drug charges that continue to hinder Americans., disproportionately affect people of color, to access employment, housing and other opportunities.»

As we continue to advocate for the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, this bill will provide needed resources to expunge drug charges that continue to hold back Americans - disproportionately people of color - from employment, housing and other opportunity.

- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) December 2, 2021

By virtue of of the bill, State governors and local governments «must submit to the Attorney General an application at such time, in such manner and containing such information as the Attorney General may reasonably require» to qualify for the grants.

In addition, the legislation requires the Attorney General to conduct a study of the impact of cannabis-related convictions on individuals, as well as the financial costs to states that incarcerate people for non-violent cannabis-related offenses.

Officials in the jurisdictions receiving the grants would be required to «publish on a publicly accessible website information about the availability and process for expunging convictions for cannabis-related offenses, including information for people living in another jurisdiction who have been convicted of a cannabis-related offense in that jurisdiction.».

They will also be required to «submit a report to the Attorney General describing the use of these funds and the number of convictions for cannabis-related offenses that have been expunged using these funds».

This proposal would not put an end to the federal ban on cannabis in the United States, but would make it easier to clear up the situation at state level.