A decision by the Alaska Supreme Court will remove from an online database around 750 marijuana possession convictions.
The order signed by the court’s five justice will remove these marijuana convictions from Courtview, the state’s official online database of court cases which is useable by the public. The records will still be available for inspection at courthouses and through formal criminal background checks, but they won’t be readily available to the public.
“I’m glad that the Supreme Court has ordered this,” says Senator Scott Kawasaki.
The move covers charges related to the possession of up to 21 grams of marijuana committed by those who were 21 and older during the time of the offense.
“Given that (marijuana) has been legal for eight years, it appeared to the Supreme Court that this was an appropriate time not to have people, as I say, suffer the negative consequences that can stem from having your name posted on Courtview. Because the conduct is considered legal right now,” says Nancy Meade, general counsel for the Alaska Court System.
“A lot of folks in my district, they have these barriers that are put in place, and a simple rule change, policy change, legislation, could change it for their entire lives,” said State Rep. Stanley Wright.
