It’s safe to say Vermont’s proposed S.54 expansion package has sparked the interest of many citizens affected by the criminalization of marijuana. This is because the expunction of marijuana crimes has been added to the bill. The bill, which has divided the House and State on support, is an attempt to move forward on Vermont’s legalization and decriminalization of marijuana.
It previously included a 20% tax for the sale of marijuana, opportunity for retail sales, dispensaries, and saliva testing for suspected impaired drivers. The expansion of the bill would now allow for the automatic expungement of the criminal records of those convicted of possessing less than two ounces of marijuana. While marijuana has been legal in Vermont since 2018, the actual sale of cannabis is still prohibited, and the current requirement for automatic expungement is the possession of one ounce or less of the drug when convicted.
While this bill is widely supported by marijuana users, it has received many harsh criticisms as well. Some believe the bill does not take into account the racial injustice that is factored into the marijuana marketplace, and they call for more stipulations to protect the Black community from discrimination in the market. These concerns are supported by mountains of evidence that point to racial inequalities in the treatment of those with marijuana possessions since the War on Drugs commenced: The ACLU reports have found that Black people in the possession of marijuana are approximately six times more likely to be arrested than white people in possession. Though the creators of the bill have added a Cannabis Control Board, a board that would prioritize granting licenses to minority-owned and female-owned cannabis businesses, many critics believe this is not enough and more stipulations must be introduced.
Other critics believe that the many hoops one must jump through to receive an expunction for marijuana-related charges must be addressed in order for the bill to be effective and do as much good as possible. While the House and State remain quite torn on the passing of the S.54 bill, there is one ray of hope. This has brought attention to the need for expunction legislation, which will hopefully remain a part of the conversation regardless of the bill’s passing.
If you’re struggling to move on from your marijuana charge or arrest, give Easy Expunctions a call. You might be eligible to have your record cleared once and for all.
