Massachusetts to Pardon Tens of Thousands for Cannabis Charges

BOSTON — A state advisory panel has unanimously endorsed Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s plan to pardon tens of thousands of state residents convicted of misdemeanor cannabis charges.

Healey unveiled the sweeping pardon proposal last month, explaining that she was heeding President Joe Biden’s call to forgive low-level drug offenders to rectify racial disparities in the justice system.

But she needed the approval of the Governor’s Council, a body of elected officials that provides advice and consent to proposals by the Massachusetts government on matters ranging from judicial nominations to pardons.

Now that the council has given her plan its blessing, Healey’s pardons will apply to all adult Massachusetts state court misdemeanor convictions before March 13, 2024, for possession of marijuana or a “Class D substance.” 

Most people will not need to take any action to have their criminal records updated, but anyone who would like to proactively request a cannabis pardon certificate can do so online. 

“Massachusetts made history today. I’m grateful to the Governor’s Council for their due diligence in approving my request to pardon all state misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions,” Healey said in a written statement. 

“Thousands of Massachusetts residents will now see their records cleared of this charge, which will help lower the barriers they face when seeking housing, education or a job,” she said.

“I want to thank President Biden for his leadership on this issue, and I’m proud that Massachusetts was able to answer his call to action in this momentous way. I hope that other states will follow our lead as we work together to make our communities more fair and equitable,” she said.

Massachusetts decriminalized possession of cannabis for personal use in 2008, and completely legalized it in 2016. But thousands of state residents have records for possession convictions dating back to the 1960s, and possibly longer.

This blotch on their records has long been a barrier to better job opportunities, an education or qualifying for a mortgage or an apartment lease.

Healey’s pardons will forgive a criminal conviction, but it doesn’t automatically seal or expunge criminal records, Massachusetts officials said.

Biden began issuing executive clemencies to rectify racial disparities in the federal judicial system ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

Since then, a number of states have followed suit, including Connecticut, Missouri, Oregon and Rhode Island.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue