New Marijuana Law To Erase Thousands Of Convictions In CT: Here's What To Know

CONNECTICUT — About 44,000 low-level marijuana possession cases will be fully or partially erased Jan. 1 when part of the state's recreational marijuana law goes into effect.

Convictions for possession of under four ounces of marijuana that occurred between Jan. 1, 2000 and Sept. 30, 2015 will automatically be erased, according to Gov. Ned Lamont's office. People who fall under this scenario don't have to do anything for their record to be erased. They may legally tell employers, landlords and others that the conviction never occurred.

Convictions under different scenarios require a person to file a petition in Superior Court. Those scenarios, according to Lamont's office, include:

• Convictions for violations of C.G.S. § 21a-279 for possession of less than or equal to four ounces of a cannabis-type substance imposed before January 1, 2000, and between October 1, 2015, and June 30, 2021.
• Convictions for violations of C.G.S. § 21a-267(a) for possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia for cannabis imposed before July 1, 2021.
• Convictions for violations of C.G.S. § 21a-277(b) imposed before July 1, 2021, for manufacturing, selling, possessing with intent to sell, or giving or administering to another person a cannabis-type substance and the amount involved was under four ounces or six plants grown inside a person’s home for personal use.

Connecticut legalized recreational marijuana use on July 1, 2021. It decriminalized possession of small amounts in 2011 and implemented a medical marijuana program in 2012.

The state is inching closer to recreational sales at dispensaries. The Department of Consumer Protection anticipates sales will begin by the end of this year, or early next year. One hold-up is that the industry needs at least 250,000 total square feet of growing and manufacturing space before retail sales can begin.

Separately, state agencies continue to work on the automate erasure system that was created by the state's Clean Slate laws. Implementing the system requires IT upgrades across multiple state agencies.

People eligible for criminal conviction erasure if they don't have any other criminal convictions for seven or 10 years, depending on the crime. Eligible offenses include most misdemeanors and some lower-level felonies. Offenders need to complete their sentences and meet certain other eligibility standards.

The Connecticut Criminal Justice Information System Governing Board asked co-chairs of the legislative judiciary committee to clarify some points of the law in the upcoming legislative session.