SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Dave Warden, a bud tender at Private Organic Therapy (P.O.T.), a non-profit co-operative medical marijuana dispensary, displays various types of marijuana available to patients on October 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)
San Francisco Shows Nation Way Forward by Throwing Out Old Marijuana Convictions
"While drug policy on the federal level is going backwards, San Francisco is once again taking the lead to undo the damage that this country's disastrous, failed drug war has had on our nation and on communities of color in particular."
Feb 01, 2018
Just weeks after a California measure legalizing the use of recreational marijuana went into effect, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon announced on Wednesday that the city will wipe clean the records of thousands of individuals who have been charged with marijuana-related misdemeanors and felonies over the past several decades.
"There are millions of Californians with marijuana convictions on their record. Automatic expungement is neeeded to truly repair the drug war's harms."
--Jag Davis, Drug Policy Alliance
"While drug policy on the federal level is going backwards, San Francisco is once again taking the lead to undo the damage that this country's disastrous, failed drug war has had on our nation and on communities of color in particular," Gascon said in a statement on Wednesday, alluding to the Trump administration's recent announcement that it will rescind federal policy that allows Americans grow, sell, and use marijuana in states where it's legal.
Noting that California's new marijuana law allows citizens to petition courts to have their convictions tossed or reduced, Gascon notes that the process can be expensive and time-consuming.
"A criminal conviction can be a barrier to employment, housing, and other benefits, so instead of waiting for the community to take action, we're taking action for the community," Gascon said.
San Francisco's decision to retroactively apply Proposition 64, which was approved by voters in November 2016, was immediately applauded as a massive "step forward"--one that must be replicated throughout California and in other states that have legalized marijuana in order to "truly repair the drug war's harms."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Just weeks after a California measure legalizing the use of recreational marijuana went into effect, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon announced on Wednesday that the city will wipe clean the records of thousands of individuals who have been charged with marijuana-related misdemeanors and felonies over the past several decades.
"There are millions of Californians with marijuana convictions on their record. Automatic expungement is neeeded to truly repair the drug war's harms."
--Jag Davis, Drug Policy Alliance
"While drug policy on the federal level is going backwards, San Francisco is once again taking the lead to undo the damage that this country's disastrous, failed drug war has had on our nation and on communities of color in particular," Gascon said in a statement on Wednesday, alluding to the Trump administration's recent announcement that it will rescind federal policy that allows Americans grow, sell, and use marijuana in states where it's legal.
Noting that California's new marijuana law allows citizens to petition courts to have their convictions tossed or reduced, Gascon notes that the process can be expensive and time-consuming.
"A criminal conviction can be a barrier to employment, housing, and other benefits, so instead of waiting for the community to take action, we're taking action for the community," Gascon said.
San Francisco's decision to retroactively apply Proposition 64, which was approved by voters in November 2016, was immediately applauded as a massive "step forward"--one that must be replicated throughout California and in other states that have legalized marijuana in order to "truly repair the drug war's harms."
Just weeks after a California measure legalizing the use of recreational marijuana went into effect, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon announced on Wednesday that the city will wipe clean the records of thousands of individuals who have been charged with marijuana-related misdemeanors and felonies over the past several decades.
"There are millions of Californians with marijuana convictions on their record. Automatic expungement is neeeded to truly repair the drug war's harms."
--Jag Davis, Drug Policy Alliance
"While drug policy on the federal level is going backwards, San Francisco is once again taking the lead to undo the damage that this country's disastrous, failed drug war has had on our nation and on communities of color in particular," Gascon said in a statement on Wednesday, alluding to the Trump administration's recent announcement that it will rescind federal policy that allows Americans grow, sell, and use marijuana in states where it's legal.
Noting that California's new marijuana law allows citizens to petition courts to have their convictions tossed or reduced, Gascon notes that the process can be expensive and time-consuming.
"A criminal conviction can be a barrier to employment, housing, and other benefits, so instead of waiting for the community to take action, we're taking action for the community," Gascon said.
San Francisco's decision to retroactively apply Proposition 64, which was approved by voters in November 2016, was immediately applauded as a massive "step forward"--one that must be replicated throughout California and in other states that have legalized marijuana in order to "truly repair the drug war's harms."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy