Advertisement Gov. Peter Shumlin pardons 192 people convicted of minor drug offenses Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin pardoned 192 people convicted of minor drug offenses on his final days in office. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin pardoned 192 people convicted of minor drug offenses on his final days in office. Shumlin issued the pardons Tuesday morning. Last month, Shumlin invited people convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana before the state decriminalized it in 2013 to apply for pardons. About 450 people applied. Of those, 192 were approved. “A minor marijuana possession charge should not be an anchor that holds back an individual from getting a good job or going about their life,” Shumlin said. “While attitudes and laws about marijuana use are rapidly changing, there is still a harmful stigma associated with it. My hope was to help as many individuals as I could overcome that stigma and the very real struggles that too often go along with it. Vermont should follow the many states that are legalizing and regulating the use of marijuana and put to an end the incredible failure that is the War on Drugs.” And it's not just marijuana. Shumlin issued 10 pardons Saturday for people convicted of various felonies and misdemeanors, including the son of former vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro and the son of former U.S. Rep. Richard Mallary. Since the Christmas Day deadline to apply for marijuana pardons, Shumlin's staff has been doing background checks on those who applied. Anyone with a violent criminal history would not receive a pardon. Shumlin plans to deliver a farewell address to the legislature Wednesday. His last day in office is Thursday. During his six years in office, Shumlin has pardoned 208 people, more than any other governor in Vermont history.