Virginia

The Virginia House and Senate each approved a bill to expunge low-level cannabis crimes this week. Senate Bill 5043 would give cannabis convicts the opportunity to have their police and court records wiped of their charges. According to an official summary, “The bill requires the person to have paid all court costs, fines, and restitution, and for five years to have elapsed since the date of conviction, depending on the nature of the offense.” The proposal would also allow for the expungement of other minor, non-cannabis crimes including the use of a fake ID to purchase alcohol. House Bill 5146 […]

When it comes to social equity in Greater Boston, private enterprise and the voluntary sector aren’t going it alone. A public-private partnership is working to help people who were adversely affected by the War on Drugs obtain a foothold in the cannabis industry. Launched in 2019, Mass CultivatED strives to help people who were arrested or incarcerated, have family members who had those same experiences, or live in an area where those experiences have had a disproportionate impact on the population. The program refers to them as “fellows.” “When I decided to get one of these licenses and create a […]

When it comes to social equity in Greater Boston, private enterprise and the voluntary sector aren’t going it alone. A public-private partnership is working to help people who were adversely affected by the War on Drugs obtain a foothold in the cannabis industry. Launched in 2019, Mass CultivatED strives to help people who were arrested or incarcerated, have family members who had those same experiences, or live in an area where those experiences have had a disproportionate impact on the population. The program refers to them as “fellows.” “When I decided to get one of these licenses and create a […]