cannabisnews.com: Ruling Clears Way for MJ Convictions To Be Erased
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Ruling Clears Way for MJ Convictions To Be Erased
Posted by CN Staff on March 19, 2015 at 05:17:33 PT
By Dave Collins, Associated Press 
Source: Associated Press
Hartford, Conn. -- Thousands of people busted in Connecticut for marijuana possession now have the right to get their convictions erased after the state Supreme Court ruled Monday that the violation had been downgraded to the same legal level as a parking ticket.The 7-0 ruling came in the case of former Manchester and Bolton resident Nicholas Menditto, who had asked for his convictions to be overturned after the Legislature decriminalized possession of small amounts of pot in 2011.
"It's a topic multiple states will have to be facing," said Aaron Romano, Menditto's attorney. "Because marijuana is being decriminalized across the United States, this issue needs to be addressed."Colorado, Washington state, Washington, D.C., and Alaska have legalized the recreational use of pot. Oregon's law legalizing it takes effect in July. Connecticut and 22 other states allow marijuana for medicinal purposes, and 18 states have decriminalized possession of varying amounts.Last year, Colorado's second-highest court ruled that some people convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana can ask for those convictions to be thrown out under the state law that legalized recreational marijuana. Officials in the other states are grappling with the issue.In 2011, Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislators changed possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana from a misdemeanor with potential jail time to a violation with a $150 fine for a first offense and fines of $200 to $500 for subsequent offenses.Menditto, 31, wanted the state to erase his two convictions for marijuana possession in 2009 and a pending possession case. The Supreme Court ruled he could apply to have the two convictions erased, but declined to address the pending case. Romano said he may take the pending case to the U.S. Supreme Court.The appeal involved the 2011 decriminalization and another state law that allows erasure of convictions of offenses that have been decriminalized.A three-judge panel of the Appellate Court, the state's second-highest court, agreed with prosecutors when it ruled in 2013 that convictions before the 2011 law took effect should stand.The judges said the term "decriminalization," as used in the state law allowing erasure of convictions for offenses that are decriminalized, means legalization. They concluded the state has not legalized possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana.The Supreme Court disagreed."The legislature has determined that such violations are to be handled in the same manner as civil infractions, such as parking violations," Justice Carmen Espinosa wrote in the ruling. "The state has failed to suggest any plausible reason why erasure should be denied in such cases."Senior Assistant State's Attorney Harry Weller said the state argued what it believed was the correct analysis. He said the issue was one the Supreme Court needed to decide.Romano said Menditto is now an activist for the use of medical marijuana. He said when Menditto was arrested, he was using pot to medicate himself. Romano declined to elaborate.Source: Associated Press (Wire) Author: Dave Collins, Associated Press Published: March 16, 2015Copyright: 2015 The Associated PressCannabisNews  -- Cannabis  Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on March 19, 2015 at 18:52:54 PT
this is a start
This is a start. Release them from jail, prisons, and other confinements, and clear their records. Return their stuff or the monetary equivalent, return all fines and fees paid, and pay them reparations for everyday they were confined. Then it would be better.
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on March 19, 2015 at 08:17:17 PT:
CNEWS, right once more
Last decade it was posited here that one of the main reasons why the prohibs have fought us so hard for so long was the effect re-legalization was going to have on the (so-called) 'Justice' system. Namely, restitution of stolen rights...and property. The impact of regaining stolen rights will lead to the return of the balance of power vis-a-vis the individual and The State. The past 40 years, the balance had been tipped towards The State, with horrific results. Regaining personal sovereignty, by reclaiming the right to use cannabis legally again, will lead to exponential expansion of that effort to regain more freedoms. The forces behind the prohibs also knew that, and it's the real reason why our taxpayer dollars were used against us all these years, as the prohibs could not have made their case rationally in the public arena of debate. They knew their ulterior motives, such as self-serving greed and powerlust, would have been dragged into the light and exposed. Which is why until lately we were never able to get more than the bottom feeders on their food chain to debate us.Well, guess what? Since they didn't want to debate us when they had the chance, we don't have to debate them now that we have the majority. We just tell the pols, "We're the majority, get it done."The property part is what really makes them sweat. The LE sorts never kept good forfeiture records. In their arrogance, they thought they'd never have to. After re-legalization, the original owners of that property will be in a position to sue. (Chuckling) The States will have to legalize then, to raise the revenues to pay off the lawsuits, or risk further bankruptcy. Oh, the irony of it! (Wolf's grin)
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