The Governor’s Council today approved Governor Healey’s pardon for all misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions in Massachusetts.
Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, released the following statement in response:
“We thank Governor Healey for her leadership on this life-changing issue, and we applaud the Governor’s Council for swiftly approving this pardon. People in every community across the state – especially Black and Brown people, who were disproportionately charged with marijuana-related crimes over the years – will no longer be punished for something that is now legal in our state. Let’s be clear: Tens of thousands of people in Massachusetts will now get a second chance, and will face fewer barriers to housing, jobs, education, student loans, and stability.”
