Give amnesty to those with old pot possession convictions
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD about the movement to wipe the record clean for people convicted of old charges of marijuana possession I thought, “no way.”
The legalization of recreational marijuana next Wednesday doesn’t change the fact it’s illegal right now, and I figured anybody caught breaking the law up to then should be treated under the old laws.
But a private member’s bill introduced by Victoria MP Murray Rankin makes good sense. The bill would allow anyone charged with personal possession of cannabis products that will be legalized Oct. 17 to apply to the Parole Board to have the charges expunged.
Yes, the official term is “expunged.” If the application is approved, it will be as if the charges and convictions never happened.