People with eligible marijuana possession convictions in Canada can now apply online to have their records set aside through a new federal application portal.
The Parole Board of Canada launched its service portal October 1, allowing applicants and their representatives to submit marijuana record suspension applications electronically. Users can upload supporting documents, save an unfinished application and track its progress.
The portal serves both the regular record suspension program and the streamlined process for people whose only convictions are for simple possession of marijuana.
According to the board, electronic submission avoids mailing costs and delivery delays. Processing times remain the same for applications submitted online and by mail. Applicants need a GCKey account and must create a profile when first accessing the portal.
Canada’s streamlined marijuana record suspension process is available to people convicted as adults of possessing marijuana for personal use without an intent to distribute. Applicants do not need to be Canadian citizens or currently live in Canada, provided their eligible convictions occurred there.
There is no application fee or additional waiting period once the sentence is completed. Unpaid fines or victim surcharges tied to the marijuana conviction do not prevent someone from applying, although other portions of the sentence, such as probation, must be finished.
Applicants remain responsible for costs associated with obtaining fingerprints, criminal records, court documents and police checks. People with other types of convictions must use the regular record suspension process if eligible.
An approved suspension separates the conviction record from other criminal records in the Canadian Police Information Centre database, helping remove barriers to employment, education and volunteering. It does not erase the conviction.
The board says applicants can apply directly without hiring a lawyer or a paid third-party service.
