People convicted of low-level marijuana crimes may have a new friend in the governor's mansion.

Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer, who scored a 53-44 percent victory on Tuesday, said she intends to use the governor's clemency powers to free at least some of the thousands of people serving time in state prison for marijuana-related convictions, in light of Tuesday night's strong vote to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

"For conduct that now would be considered legal, no one should bear a lifetime record," Whitmer said at a news conference at the Motor City Casino and Hotel in Detroit.

"We will start taking a look at that and taking some actions early next year."

In Michigan, more than 20,000 people were arrested in 2017 on marijuana charges, most of which were low-level use or possession crimes that may not be illegal under the newly passed marijuana legalization.

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In some other states where recreational use of marijuana has been legalized, voters or lawmakers have decided to make it easier for people convicted of marijuana crimes to get their records expunged or sealed. And Michigan could be on the same path if a bill introduced last week by state Rep. Sheldon Neeley gets a hearing and is passed.

In the last five years, 117,123 Michiganders have been arrested and charged with misdemeanor marijuana offenses and 49,928 of those people have been convicted, according to statistics compiled by the Michigan State Police from records supplied by county prosecutors and courts.

Another 3,670 people are either in prison, jail or on probation for felony marijuana convictions, according to the Michigan Department of Correction’s 2016 annual report of its inmate population. Some of those convictions were for high-level marijuana distribution charges, but others were for possession or use of marijuana. Neeley’s bill would allow some of those people to request an expungement of their conviction, but judges wouldn’t be required to grant those requests.

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.