After saying last week that residents could receive pardons for low-level marijuana convictions, PA Governor Tom Wolf spoke yesterday to clarify and elaborate about the process.
“We want to do this in a fair way, and a way that keeps society safe,” Wolf said. “While allowing people to move on with their lives, and move on from their mistakes.”
Wolf elaborated saying that a person arrested for “a minor, non-violent marijuana charge should not face a lifetime of not being able to get a job, rent an apartment, or get into higher education.”
By allowing more cases to be heard, Wolf said offenders will be treated as human beings instead of criminals.
Although this is an expedited review program, it is not a fast track program and each case will be heard and considered carefully. The same process is still in place for pardon requests to be considered as Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman explains.
“This path already currently existed,” Fetterman said. “We’re expediting this process and we’ve done it where it doesn’t cost anybody anything.”
Anyone interested in applying for a marijuana-related pardon should first fill out and submit a completed and accurate application to the PA Board of Pardons.
