In a nationwide, unprecedented move, the courts of Los Angeles County are seeking to dismiss over 66,000 marijuana convictions, with some dating back over five decades.
L.A. District Attorney Jackie Lacey has asked a judge to throw out and dismiss 62,000 felony cases going back as far as 1961 and 3,700 misdemeanor weed cases.
Lacey, who is currently in a tight race for her position with two other candidates, maybe using this move as a campaign bartering tool to attract voters.
“We believe it is the largest effort in California to wipe out old criminal convictions in a single court motion,” said Lacey in a press conference.
Sealing convictions, Lacey said, will bring relief for many facing obstacles in “building the life they deserve.”
“We’re making a motion to seal it because we realize that’s the issue,” Lacey said. “When you go to apply for a job, you go to apply for housing and your record comes up, even though we’ve expunged it, that may not give you help.”
