Oregon Governor Pardons Over 45,000 for Simple Pot Possession

By: Buz Deliere | November 25, 2022

Photo Cedit: Zehnkatzen

Not even two months since President Biden made his speech to pardon simple cannabis possession inmates and asked states to do the same, we are starting to see some of the effects.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced that she will be forgiving prior offenses for simple possession of cannabis. The pardon is expected to affect more than 45000 people across Oregon and could potentially forgive up to $14 million in associated fines/fees.

The Oregon Governor has granted pardons to people who had cannabis convictions before 2016. The only requirements for applicants are that they were 21 years old or older at the time of arrest, had less than an ounce (28 Grams) and there were not any victims involved.

This move, which will pardon over 45,000 people, will remove these convictions from their records potentially helping them with applying for jobs, housing, and other opportunities that they have been restricted from in the past.

The Governor said in a press release about her pardons, "No one deserves to be forever saddled with the impacts of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana.”

She continued and said “We are a state, and a nation, of second chances. Today, I am taking steps to right the wrongs of a flawed, inequitable, and outdated criminal justice system in Oregon.”