The Minnesota Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee has unanimously approved Minnesota Senate Bill 204, a measure that would expand eligibility for expungements and resentencing for individuals with marijuana-related convictions.
The bill, introduced by State Senators Lindsey Port, Clare Oumou Verbeten, and Matt Klein, now moves towards a vote by the full Senate.
SF 204 would amend Minnesota Statutes section 609A.06, subdivision 3, to clarify that individuals convicted of certain first- through fifth-degree marijuana-related controlled substance crimes may be eligible for resentencing or expungement (current law provides for expungement of lower-level offenses but does not specify eligibility for more serious convictions). To qualify, the conviction must not have involved a dangerous weapon, intentional bodily harm, or an attempt to inflict bodily harm. Additionally, the act in question must either be a lesser offense under current law or no longer considered a crime after August 1, 2023, the day the state’s adult-use marijuana law took effect.
The state’s law allows those 21 and older to possess and cultivate marijuana while establishing a regulated commercial market that is expected to launch later this year. As part of this reform, Minnesota committed to automatic expungement for certain past cannabis offenses, overseen by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. SF 204 would further clarify and expand eligibility for expungement and resentencing, addressing lingering barriers for those affected by prior marijuana convictions.
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