Oregon governor pardons thousands convicted of marijuana possession

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has pardoned thousands of citizens who have minor convictions for marijuana. Brown’s stance has removed over 47,000 convictions from rap sheets.

This will affect 45,000 individuals in Oregon and also write off $14 million in fines and fees, according to a statement from Brown.

“No one deserves to be forever saddled with the impacts of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana — a crime that is no longer on the books in Oregon,” Brown said.

“Oregonians should never face housing insecurity, employment barriers, and educational obstacles as a result of doing something that is now completely legal, and has been for years,” she added.

“My pardon will remove these hardships. And while Oregonians use marijuana at similar rates, Black and Latina/o/x people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.”

The pardons will extend exclusively to those convicted for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana before 2016. Brown’s order includes several other requirements.

In 2022, the governors of Colorado, Nevada, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Washington state made similar pardons.

Several states, which include California, Illinois, and New Jersey automatically review criminal cannabis convictions and remove past records. In other jurisdictions, those who are eligible for a pardon must make their case in court.