Cannabis policy reform advanced through multiple states in 2022. Maryland, Missouri and Rhode Island all legalized adult-use cannabis, bringing the total number of fully legal states to 21.
Lawmakers in California, Illinois and Colorado, meanwhile, enacted legislation related to sealing or expunging cannabis-related convictions, while several other states, spurred by President Joe Biden’s push for state-level pardons, announced efforts to provide remedies for those with cannabis-related convictions on their records, according to a 2022 legislative report from NORML.
Colorado
January 2022: Gov. Jared Polis issued mass pardons for those convicted of past cannabis possession offenses.
Pennsylvania
September 2022: Gov. Tom Wolf and the state’s Board of Pardons announced plans to issue mass pardons to individuals with low-level cannabis convictions.
Kentucky
November 2022: Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order to pardon people who are accused of cannabis possession but purchased medical cannabis out of state and meet other requirements.
Oregon
November 2022: Gov. Kate Brown announced intent to pardon more than 45,000 people with low-level cannabis convictions.
Connecticut
December 2022: Gov. Ned Lamont announced plans to clear the records of thousands of residents with low-level cannabis possession convictions.
