In 2016, California voters decided to legalize the personal use and growth of marijuana. This year, the state legalized recreational cannabis sales.

Even so, hundreds of thousands of Californians’ permanent records remain stained with marijuana convictions, making it difficult to secure loans, housing or jobs.

What gives?

Part of the problem is time: The process of digging up old files, determining who is eligible for record clearance and filing the paperwork to dismiss some of the convictions can be a lengthy drain on resources.