What to Know
- 300+ low-level marijuana possession convictions are getting sealed after prosecutors and defense lawyers asked NYC court to do so
- The Manhattan district attorney's office, the Legal Action Center and other groups announced the development Monday
- State legislation that takes effect later this month includes softening penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana
Over 300 low-level marijuana possession convictions are getting sealed after prosecutors and defense lawyers worked together to ask a New York City court to do so.
The Manhattan district attorney's office, the Legal Action Center and other groups announced the development Monday.
The ruling involves about 360 people convicted of New York's lowest-level marijuana misdemeanor. All had no other New York misdemeanor or felony convictions or ongoing criminal cases.
New York prosecutors and lawmakers have made various efforts to eliminate what they see as unduly burdensome employment, housing and other consequences for people involved in small-time pot cases.
State legislation that takes effect later this month softens penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana, provides for automatically sealing low-level pot cases and outlines an expungement process for some past offenses.
