Gov. Wolf Seeks To Pardon Thousands For Marijuana Charges

PENNSYLVANIA — Thousands of Pennsylvanians could have their marijuana convictions pardoned as part of a new, "large-scale" pardoning project organized by Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the latter of whom has long championed cannabis reform.

Applications for the PA Marijuana Pardon Project will be accepted by the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons for those will minor, non-violent convictions.

“This pardon project has the potential to open the door for thousands of Pennsylvanians – the college grad looking to start their career, the grandparent who’s been wanting chaperone a field trip, or any Pennsylvanian who’s been told ‘no’ for much needed assistance," Gov. Wolf said in a statement. "Now’s your chance."

Several pieces of sweeping legislation have been proposed in both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature in recent years, laying out a framework for marijuana legalization that supporters say would both reignite the economy and overturn wasteful, unjust prison sentences. The Republican-led chambers have not moved the bills forward, however.

“Until they do, I am committed to doing everything in my power to support Pennsylvanians who have been adversely affected by a minor marijuana offense on their record," the governor added.

The move to legalize recreational marijuana does have some bipartisan momentum, however. Republican State Sen. Dan Laughlin co-sponsored one of the bills with Democratic State Sen. Sharif Street in 2021. And in early 2022, a series of Senate committee hearings on legalization were held for the first time ever.

That committee's chairperson, Republican State Sen. Mike Regan, has also expressed a desire to work with Democrats on the issue.

The decriminalization of recreational cannabis is already in de facto effect in some municipalities around the state, and many observers see eventual legalization as a matter of when, not if.

“Nobody should be turned down for a job, housing, or volunteering at your child’s school because of some old nonviolent weed charge, especially given that most of us don’t even think this should be illegal,” Lt. Gov. Fetterman added.

Pennsylvanians convicted on either or both of two charges — possession of marijuana and marijuana, small amount personal use — are eligible for the new pardons.

Online applications for the pardon project are available online here.

Those ineligible for a pardon through this project can still apply for clemency using a standard application.

The Wolf administration has granted 2,098 pardons, which is more than the 1,805 pardons granted in the 15 years before Wolf took office.