Sponsored by: Rachelle Dixon, Multnomah County Approved: 12/02/2018
A RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON
Whereas, Misdemeanor crimes for personal consumption of Cannabis, also known as marijuana, have contributed to an overburdened justice system in Oregon with 52 percent of drug arrest being for marijuana, and
Whereas, While African American and Caucasians use marijuana at roughly the same rates, African Americans are 3.73 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession and use, and
Whereas, The United States, collectively waste over $3.6 billion dollars per year on enforcing marijuana laws that could be spent on other things including education, healthcare, housing, and caring for veterans, and
Whereas, Marijuana convictions are damaging and even old convictions continue to keep individuals from obtaining jobs, housing and social welfare benefits, and
Whereas, Measure 91 approved in 2014 legalized marijuana for non-medical use, and in 2015 a bill declared recreational sales as legal, and
Whereas, Expungement for past misdemeanor marijuana convictions is available but at a personal cost of several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, making it out of the grasp of many.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: Individuals who were previously charged and convicted of misdemeanor marijuana crimes in the State of Oregon, have their criminal records expunged to reflect the current law, at no cost to the individual but funded by the state to begin to repair the damage done to individuals, especially from communities of color, and to ensure that justice is accessible to all.
