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BALTIMORE — A proposed bill in Maryland could expunge criminal records for some cannabis possession and misdemeanor charges.
The Maryland Clean Slate Act would require the state’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) to expunge court records for cannabis possession charges if they were issued before July 1, 2023, or if at least three years have passed since the case.
Misdemeanor charges could also be expunged if seven years have passed since the cases. Domestic-related crimes and charges of second-degree assault would not be eligible to be expunged.
The proposed bill would require that all electronic court records and references to the specific criminal case be removed from public view by July 2027. The bill would not require documents or media to be redacted or criminal records to be destroyed.
Starting in August 2027, the Clean Slate Act would allow court officials to identify cases that are eligible for expungement under the required criteria. Those cases would be sent to DPSCS and would need to be expunged within 30 days of the notification.
The Clean Slate Act has a hearing in the state Senate scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Cannabis convictions in Maryland
Recreational marijuana use in Maryland was legalized in July 2023. One year later Gov. Wes Moore pardoned more than 175,00 convictions for cannabis or drug paraphernalia possession.
The executive order was the nation’s largest pardon for misdemeanor cannabis possession charges. The measure made Maryland the first state to include paraphernalia possession in a cannabis pardon, according to the governor.
“Maryland made history when we legalized cannabis by referendum. But we cannot celebrate the benefits of legalization while forgetting the consequences of criminalization,” Gov. Moore said. “No Marylander should face barriers to housing, employment, or education based on convictions for conduct that is no longer illegal.”
The pardon included 15,000 simple cannabis possession convictions and 18,000 misdemeanor convictions for intent to use drug paraphernalia.
Cannabis impact on public health
The Maryland Department of Health began monitoring the impacts of cannabis on public health by launching a dashboard in November 2024.
The dashboard tracks emergency room visits, youth and adult use and calls to Maryland and D.C. poison control centers.
“By tracking key indicators, we can create programs and resources aimed at preventing youth cannabis use, promoting safe storage of products to prevent accidental poisonings, and ensuring that existing services effectively support Marylanders facing adverse effects from cannabis use,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman.
Between 2021 and 2023, calls to poison centers serving Maryland nearly doubled for kids nine and younger and tripled for those ages 10 to 14, according to the dashboard.
The data also showed a 21% increase in cannabis-related hospitalizations between 2023 and 2024.
In December 2024, Baltimore County health officials reported a rise in hospitalizations due to cannabis vape products.
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