The Governor's Council voted unanimously on April 3, 2024 to approve Gov. Maura Healey's mass pardon for cannabis possession convictions, WBUR reported. Officials said hundreds of thousands are affected; one councilor cited 69,000 to 100,000, and a Trial Court letter referenced about 22,000 adult cases in electronic records.
A pardon notes forgiveness but does not remove the conviction; expungement needs a separate application. Recipients need not act, though they may request a pardon certificate. Courts must identify eligible people and update records, a task described as enormous that may need funding.
Why it matters: The pardon reaches simple possession only, and the article does not mention anyone still incarcerated.
Source: WBUR, 2024-04-03. Forgotten Prisoner's account is based on this reporting.