Ohio Senate Bill 288 is now in effect, which means Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb can continue with his marijuana expungement reforms. That’s right, folks, the city is taking action to remove the barriers of low-level marijuana convictions for those seeking opportunities at work or school.
In 2022, Mayor Bibb sought to seal the records of citizens who had been convicted of minor misdemeanor marijuana offenses. Why? Because the legal system can be complex and time-consuming leaving citizens stuck in process – so it’s kind of like skipping the world’s longest line.
Thanks to the coordinated work of Mayor Bibb over 838 citizens have already received expungements, and with the expanded ability granted by SB 288, the city will continue to seal the records of over 4,000 cases. That’s a lot of sealed records, which means Cleveland is on its way to being the chillest city in Ohio.
Mayor Bibb will continue working with local organizations to hold one-day expungement clinics, so those seeking expungements can file and close their cases without ever having to go to court. It’s like sitting in post game Cavs traffic only to discover a hidden shortcut that gets you to your destination faster – turning a seemingly negative situation into a surprisingly positive outcome.
In short, Cleveland is making moves to create a more equitable future for its citizens. Let’s hope other cities follow suit, because if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that everyone deserves a fair shot at success – even if they’ve smoked a little weed in the past.
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