Take Action: New York needs automatic expungement for marijuana convictions

More than 800,000 people have been arrested on marijuana charges in New York State over the last 20 years, and the overwhelming majority are people of color. When people get convicted on these charges, their criminal record can stay with them forever, negatively impacting their access to employment, housing, trade licenses, and full participation in their community.

In all likelihood, New York State will soon legalize adult-use cannabis, yet New Yorkers still face consequences from past marijuana-related crimes.

If New York is going to take this historic step, it has a moral obligation to automatically expunge criminal records for marijuana-related convictions.

It would be a gross injustice to continue punishing an individual for a past marijuana conviction once marijuana becomes legal.

Please tell your elected representatives that our state must embrace automatic expungement for marijuana convictions.