North Dakota clears way for pardons on marijuana offenses

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's pardon advisory board on Wednesday unanimously backed a policy change that will allow people with low-level marijuana convictions to apply for pardons and have their records wiped clean if they don't commit another crime for five years.

Republican Gov. Doug Burgum and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem both support the change, which brings North Dakota in line with some other states and cities that have been trying to fix problems that such past convictions have caused for people trying to find jobs and housing.

North Dakota's change doesn't go as far as some others that automatically dismissed or pardoned convictions. Instead, people applying for pardons would have to fill out an online form on the corrections department's website. The deadline for the first round of applications is Aug. 10. It costs nothing to apply.

Stenehjem said as many as 175,000 marijuana convictions over several decades could be eligible.

Read more: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/north-dakota-clears-way-for-pardons-on-marijuana-offenses/article_7842d29a-40cc-5f27-a549-ce210be5a380.html