By Noah White

 

While most state lawmakers are enjoying the start of their summer recess, Delaware and New Jersey will be considering new cannabis legislation for the week of June 4, 2018.  Each state’s legislators will hear bills pertaining to criminal record expungements for eligible cannabis-related convictions.

Additionally, Delaware will consider amending its list of qualifying medical conditions for medical marijuana patient eligibility.

New Jersey A3620 would establish an expedited expungement process for certain marijuana or marijuana-related criminal offenses. However, the proposed bill is contingent upon the approval of legislation legalizing or decriminalizing possession and consumption of marijuana. Sponsored by Democratic Assembly member Arthur Barclay, A3620 was scheduled for a hearing on Monday June 4, 2018, before the Assembly Judiciary Committee in Trenton. Additionally, the bill would create an Expungement Coordinator Program to provide assistance to individuals with the preparation and filing of the application to clear records of criminal penalties.

Delaware’s SB 197 also addresses criminal records. It would provide mandatory expungement eligibility to individuals who were convicted of the possession or consumption of cannabis prior to decriminalization on December 18, 2015. To be eligible for the record expungement, individuals must have only a marijuana conviction and no other charges. SB 197 was scheduled for a hearing at noon Wednesday, June 6, 2018, before the Senate Health, Children and Social Services Committee in Dover. The bill, authored by Republican state Sen. Greg Lavelle, has received significant bipartisan support and will likely move through both chambers of the legislature with little opposition.

Also in Delaware, HB 374 would expand the list of debilitating conditions that may qualify individuals for medical marijuana. The proposed amendment would qualify anyone suffering from glaucoma, chronic debilitating migraines, pediatric autism spectrum disorder, or pediatric sensory processing disorder, if certified by  a licensed physician. HB 374 was scheduled for a hearing at noon Wednesday, June 6, 2018, before the Senate Health, Children & Social Services Committee in Dover.