U.S. Rep Earl Blumenauer Wants to Take Oregon's Weed-Crime Expungement National

U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer speaks at the AFL-CIO Labor Day picnic
By CLAIRE HOLLEY

UPDATE, 11:45 am Monday, July 20: U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) this morning announced plans to introduce federal legislation to create a pathway for some federal marijuana offenders to expunge their records.

The bill, which Blumenauer will formally introduce on Tuesday, is called "The Clean Slate for Marijuana Offenses Act of 2015."

The bill applies to people who were federally charged for actions that were legal in the state where they lived, and those who were found in possession of under an ounce of marijuana.

"The penalties of failed prohibition policies should stop ruining people's lives," Blumenauer says. "People who were caught up in the federal criminal justice system for a marijuana offense that was legal under state law at the time should not carry around a drug record."

He added that it is "important that we create pathways for expungement for those who should never have been charged in the first place."

ORIGINAL POST, 1:26 pm Friday, July 17: Oregon is poised to become a national model for erasing the stigma of past pot crimes.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer will on Monday announce his plans to introduce federal legislation allowing people to expunge nonviolent marijuana crimes from their criminal records.

Blumenauer will hold a media roundtable on July 20 with state Rep. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) and state Rep. Ann Lininger (D-Lake Oswego) to discuss his plan—modeled on similar legislation passed by Oregon lawmakers this year.

As WW first reported, Frederick and Lininger led the charge in Oregon to let people erase convictions for growing, selling or possessing weed, as long as the crimes occurred at least three years ago and didn't involve a violent crime. The Legislature passed the law as part of a package of pot bills this month.

Blumenauer's press release says he'll announce his plan to take these efforts national. He will introduce federal legislation aimed at allowing marijuana offenders to expunge their records in cases where the activity was legal under state law.

Blumenauer's spokeswoman Nicole D'Esperance declined to offer further details. "He'll be announcing his plans at the press event," she says.

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.