Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (D) has signed Senate Bill 115 into law, allowing those convicted of possessing up to an ounce of cannabis prior to 2013 to have the charge removed from their record.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Joe Benning (R-Lyndonville), allows Vermont residents who were convicted of crimes that are “no longer prohibited by law or designated as a criminal offense” to apply to have the charges expunged (removed) from their records.

In 2013, lawmakers decriminalized the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, meaning anyone convicted of such a crime before the law took effect can now have the charge expunged from their criminal record, meaning it would no longer appear in a background check.

In order for an individual to have their record expunged under the new law, at least a year must have passed since the person completed any sentence or probation given for the offense, and as long as they’ve paid back all financial obligations.

The full text of the measure can be found by clicking here.

– TheJointBlog