Latest Stories
Here’s what we've been up to recently.
Illinois Utilizing $45 Million In Marijuana Tax Grants
Illinois officials have announced the approval of $45 million in grants to support community reinvestment for those affected by the war on drugs. The grant funds were generated from the sales tax of adult-use cannabis sales.
Rommy Kassim
7/9/2022
AMA Calls For Marijuana Record Expunctions
On June 14th, 2022, the AMA, also known as the American Medical Association, announced their approval for a resolution that calls for legislation to expunge cannabis arrests and convictions in states where cannabis is no longer illegal. The decision was made at the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates in Chicago last week, with the goal to bring fairness and equality in legalizing cannabis.
Rommy Kassim
7/3/2022
Des Moines "Ban The Box" Law Are In Effect
The city of Des Moines, Iowa has recently made new efforts to help those with criminal records seeking employment. On November 15th, 2021, the Des Moines city council passed the "ban-the-box" law which limits employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history or performing background checks until a conditional offer of employment has been made.
Rommy Kassim
7/2/2022
CA Is Using $35 Million In Grants To Repair Damage Caused By War On Drugs
The war on drugs is detrimental to society, and it's time to repair the damages. Recreational marijuana sales rake in millions of dollars each year, and California officials are granting a whopping $35.5 million of accumulated marijuana tax revenue to fund 78 organizations throughout the state.
Rommy Kassim
6/26/2022
New Jersey Considers Ban The Box Measure For College Applications
Everyone deserves a second chance, especially surrounding education in a country with college-oriented qualifications. New Jersey lawkmakers demonstrate a refreshing understanding of this reality with a proposed Ban The Box law that would expand protection to students applying to college, a necessary step to ensure that people with a criminal record are given a fair shot at the life they deserve.
Rommy Kassim
6/21/2022
Fifth Texas City To Decriminalize Marijuana
Harker Heights has now become the fifth city in Texas to add a cannabis reform option to the midterm election ballot, which will be taking place this November. The Harker Heights Initiative, with the goal to decriminalize marajuana possession in Harker Heights, comes from larger efforts of the activist group Ground Game Texas.
Rommy Kassim
6/18/2022
Illinois HB 4392 Now Allows Applicants To Recieve Expunctions
Illinois has recently signed approval for House Bill 4392, which will now allow positive cannabis tests for those applying for an expunction of criminal charges. The previous law required that individuals seeking an expunction or seal of felony drug convictions to test negative of cannabis usage.
Rommy Kassim
6/15/2022
Rhode Island Marijuana Convictions Could Be Automatically Expunged
After the House and Senate committees of Rhode Island approved legislation legalizing the recreational use of marijuana, the governor signed the bill into law. Fortunately, the bill will ultimately benefit tens of thousands of people with past marijuana convictions.
Rommy Kassim
6/11/2022
Florida Governor Approves New Juvenile Expunction Bill
Florida's Governor DeSantis approved HB 195, a bill that allows juveniles to have felony charges expunged from their records, a year after vetoing the measure. The most recent session's version broadens the access minors have to expunging lesser felonies and misdemeanors from their records.
Rommy Kassim
6/5/2022
Oklahoma Adopts Automatic Clean Slate Legislation
House Bill 3316 has been approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt, making Oklahoma the sixth state to adopt an automatic expunction system. The bill, authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, follows an interim study issued to look into problems with expunction in Oklahoma. When Miller found that the system needed to be reformed, she was approached by many to author a bill on the legislation.
Rommy Kassim
6/4/2022
City Of Tampa Considering Ban The Box Effort
The Tampa City Council is working towards helping individuals who have served time in prison return to the workforce and re-enter society. Their multi-pronged approach includes the "Ban The Box" effort which aims to remove the question of an individual's criminal history from job applications.
Rommy Kassim
5/29/2022