Community Corner

Cannabis Company To Hold Expungement Clinic In Montclair

The clinic will give people tips on how to expunge low-level marijuana crimes from their records.

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc., which recently opened recreational sales to the public at its cannabis dispensary in Montclair, will be holding an expungement clinic in the township on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Ascend Wellness is planning to host a week of events across the U.S. that offer expungement and other legal services to formerly incarcerated people, helping them to clear their records of marijuana-related offenses. The clinics will assist people with the expungement process and record sealing, and offer information about other resources such as housing and mental health support.

The company’s expungement events will kick off with a clinic at the Wally Choice Community Center in Glenfield Park, 45 Maple Avenue in Montclair, held in partnership with Blaze Responsibly. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 1.

Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“Cannabis legalization is a unique issue in that if executed properly it can be used as a tool for economic growth in underserved communities,” said Danielle Drummond, Ascend’s vice president of social equity.

“Expungement clinics, legal assistance and mental health services are practical initiatives that can make an incredible impact in the lives of the formerly incarcerated,” Drummond said.

Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.