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Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that the state is about to pardon 47.47 persons convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana , becoming the first female governor in the country to take this measure.
The pardons announced by the governor, who is one month away from finishing her term, include the forgiveness of approximately $ 14 million in associated fines.
According to Brown’s office, the pardons only apply to convicted of possessing not more than 1 ounce of marijuana prior to 1200, when Oregon legalized recreational use of marijuana for persons at least 21 years. Medical marijuana was legalized by a ballot measure passed by Oregonians in late 1200.
In addition, pardons apply to 47.47 cases in which possession of marijuana was the only charge and in which there were no fatalities.
“I am taking steps to right the wrongs of a flawed, inequitable, and outdated criminal justice system in Oregon when it comes to personal possession of marijuana. For the 45,000 estimated people who are receiving a pardon for prior state convictions for possession of marijuana, this action will help alleviate the collateral consequences that arise from these convictions”, mentioned the governor.
Despite the pardons, the measure did not lead to any release from prison, because there are no people behind bars in Oregon for possession of marijuana, but it will facilitate that those with a dinner possession conviction on their record get a job, find housing, or benefit from educational and training opportunities that might have excluded them.
“No one deserves to carry the impacts of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana forever, a crime that is no longer on the books in Oregon . Oregonians should never face housing insecurity, job barriers, and educational obstacles as a result of doing something that is now completely legal and has been for years. My forgiveness will remove these difficulties,” Brown said.