Gov. Pritzker Expunges Nearly 500,000 Cannabis Arrest Records, Pardons Thousands

Recreational cannabis is now legal in Illinois, but old marijuana-related charges still create barriers to housing, education and jobs.

By Stephanie Kim
Gov. Pritzker Expunges Nearly 500,000 Cannabis Arrest Records, Pardons Thousands
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker answers questions from the media during his daily press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic from his office at the Illinois State Capitol, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Springfield, Ill. Justin L. Fowler / The State Journal-Register via AP, Pool
Gov. Pritzker Expunges Nearly 500,000 Cannabis Arrest Records, Pardons Thousands
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker answers questions from the media during his daily press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic from his office at the Illinois State Capitol, Friday, May 22, 2020, in Springfield, Ill. Justin L. Fowler / The State Journal-Register via AP, Pool

Gov. Pritzker Expunges Nearly 500,000 Cannabis Arrest Records, Pardons Thousands

Recreational cannabis is now legal in Illinois, but old marijuana-related charges still create barriers to housing, education and jobs.

By Stephanie Kim

Just before the new year, Gov. JB Pritzker announced his administration expunged nearly 500,000 cannabis arrest records and issued thousands of pardons for low-level marijuana convictions.

Reset digs into what this move means for the people affected and how Illinois’ cannabis law measures up after one year of implementation.

GUESTS: Regina Hernandez, attorney with Legal Aid Chicago

Robert Mikos, professor of law at Vanderbilt University