Gov. Peter Shumlin announces Thursday he will consider pardons for those convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana. Photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger
Shumlin announced Thursday those people can apply to be considered for a pardon, as long as they have no convictions for violent crimes or felonies on their record.
“It makes zero sense for Vermonters with minor marijuana convictions to have their lives and their careers at times tarnished because of drug laws that have evolved to more sensible policies since when they were convicted back in 1968 or whenever it might have been,” Shumlin said, speaking at an unrelated event at Vermont Technical College.
Possession of small amounts of marijuana was decriminalized in Vermont in 2013, and a process to expunge one’s record of past low-level possession convictions was established. Shumlin is offering pardons for old possession charges because some people “don’t have the time and energy” to go through the expungement process, he said.
He did not have estimates for how many people may meet the criteria, citing a lack of clear records. He later said records indicate the number of people eligible could range between 10,000 and 17,000. However, he said, the issue comes up anecdotally about once a week as he meets and talks to residents in the state.
“I’ve heard endless stories of Vermonters who, you know, have wanted to go to nursing school but can’t because they got convicted of a small marijuana charge back in the 1970s or ’80s,” Shumlin said.
People who meet the criteria can submit applications to be considered for a pardon through a form on the governor’s website until Dec. 25. The Vermont Crime Information Center will collaborate with the administration to review applicants’ records, and every application will be considered independently, according to members of Shumlin’s staff.
The governor said he will “try to get to as many pardons as (he) possibly can” before he leaves office Jan. 5.
Shumlin has favored revisions to Vermont’s marijuana laws in the past and supported a legislative effort to legalize pot earlier this year.
“As we see legalization happening in Massachusetts and Maine and a number of other states, you have to ask the question, if it’s going to be legal to buy in so many states now across America, why would we still be punishing the folks that got convicted for an ounce or less, you know, many years ago,” Shumlin said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Gov.-elect Phil Scott noted that Scott supported medical marijuana and decriminalization. He has not ruled out marijuana legalization, but does not support it at this time.
“The Governor-elect believes pardon applications should be thoroughly reviewed and carefully considered to ensure that they are granted only to those who made a minor mistake, consistent with the intent of the decriminalization law,” spokesperson Ethan Latour said. “It is our expectation that Governor Shumlin has a plan in place to review and act on all the pardon applications he receives before he leaves office.”
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