Spokane will vacate marijuana possession convictions!

[Galaxy Admin]

Anyone guilty of a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge in the city of Spokane will soon be able to have the conviction removed from his or her criminal record.

The Spokane City Council voted 6-0 on Monday to allow those convictions to be vacated.

But the convictions won’t go away automatically.

City Council President Ben Stuckart said he expects that by early next year those with possession convictions will be able to fill out a form with Spokane’s Municipal Court at the Public Safety Building to have the conviction vacated.

Supporters argued that the recent legalization of recreational marijuana made it unfair to penalize those who had been convicted of a low-level marijuana crime. Those with the conviction could face difficulties finding housing and jobs, officials said.

Councilman Jon Snyder was absent from Monday’s meeting.

From 1997 to 2012, 1,817 convictions for misdemeanor marijuana possession were delivered in Spokane Municipal Court, according to court data included in a city briefing paper.

The decision doesn’t effect offenses in Spokane County District Court.

[mattynugs]

Sucks for those who got a felony for just a few ounces

[Uruk-High]

Definitely a positive development, but something should be done at the state level in WA. I agree with Matty about the felony versus misdemeanor situations. Unless there was a violent component to a crime, who cares if someone has a few grams or a few ounces?

[mattynugs]

Definitely a positive development, but something should be done at the state level in WA. I agree with Matty about the felony versus misdemeanor situations. Unless there was a violent component to a crime, who cares if someone has a few grams or a few ounces?

exactly my point. Even if the few ounces is considered to "sell" its not like they had 20 lbs or were a big king pin. These laws fucking suck

[jbmac]

Progress is progress, after 90 years of lies and a corrupt government - any progress is good news.