Alaska: Lawmakers Send Cannabis Record Sealing Bill to Governor’s Desk

State lawmakers have approved criminal justice reform legislation (HB 239) that includes provisions providing a pathway for those with low-level marijuana possession offenses to have their criminal records sealed from public view

The language, which was initially introduced as a stand-alone bill (HB 81) before being included in the broader legislation, states that upon request, no agency may release information of a criminal case in which the defendant was convicted for the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

The record sealing process is not automatic and eligible parties will need to file a request with the requisite state agencies to have their records sealed.

The bill now awaits action from Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Alaska is one of the only legal marijuana states that does not currently provide for the expungement or sealing of past marijuana convictions.

“The adult use and retail sale of cannabis products have been legal in Alaska for over a decade, yet far too many Alaskans still carry the stigma of a prior conviction for marijuana-related activities that are no longer a crime,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “Sealing these records from public view is a logical and overdue step and will provide Alaskans with greater access to jobs, housing, education, and other economic opportunities.”

According to publicly available data compiled by NORML, elected officials and courts nationwide have issued over 350,000 marijuana-related pardons and more than two million marijuana-related expungements since 2018.

NORML’s legislative action alert in support of HB 239 is available online.

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