The General
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Missouri - In Springfield a proposal that would allow low-level marijuana convictions to be scrubbed from offenders' records is slated for a public hearing at tonight's City Council meeting. The bill, drafted at the request of Councilman Craig Hosmer, would allow someone convicted of a municipal marijuana charge to have the conviction expunged after two years. A number of restrictions would apply. Charges related to driving under the influence could not be removed, and defendants with felony convictions or pending charges also would be ineligible.
Council's Plans and Policies Committee discussed the bill Oct. 17 and voted to send it to the full council for consideration. A citizen-drafted petition that council adopted and then repealed in 2012 included a similar expungement provision. Although he voted against a bill in May that would have lessened the penalties for marijuana possession, Hosmer said there ought to be a way for young people to avoid "a lifetime mark on their record" if they learn their lesson and avoid further convictions. City Attorney Dan Wichmer has said he doesn't think the expungement proposal is allowed by state law, but Hosmer and other council members have argued otherwise, saying the chance of the bill being challenged is low.
News Hawk - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: News-leader.com
Author: Amos Bridges
Council's Plans and Policies Committee discussed the bill Oct. 17 and voted to send it to the full council for consideration. A citizen-drafted petition that council adopted and then repealed in 2012 included a similar expungement provision. Although he voted against a bill in May that would have lessened the penalties for marijuana possession, Hosmer said there ought to be a way for young people to avoid "a lifetime mark on their record" if they learn their lesson and avoid further convictions. City Attorney Dan Wichmer has said he doesn't think the expungement proposal is allowed by state law, but Hosmer and other council members have argued otherwise, saying the chance of the bill being challenged is low.
News Hawk - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: News-leader.com
Author: Amos Bridges
