Seattle Seeks to Vacate Pot Convictions

What’s the story?

• Seattle prosecutors are asking the Municipal Court to vacate convictions and dismiss charges for more than 540 people who were caught carrying small amounts of pot in the city.

Why is the motion being filed?

• Voters in Seattle legalized marijuana possession in 2012, and the state launched cannabis sales through regulated dispensaries in 2014.
• Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan tweeted that clearing offenders’ criminal records would help restore justice to communities disproportionately affected by marijuana convictions:

What do you think?

Should states that legalize marijuana revisit pot-related convictions? Or should states respect federal marijuana laws? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your comments below.

—Josh Herman

Related Reading

• Seattle Joins San Francisco in Dismissing Marijuana Convictions
• Vermont First State to Legalize Pot through Legislature
• House Dems. Introduce Bill to Legalize Marijuana and Provide 'Restorative Justice'
• Justice Dept. Cracks Down on Legal Marijuana

(Photo Credit: Rex_Wholster / iStock)