JEFFERSON CITY • Missourians who obtain a medical marijuana card could have misdemeanor marijuana charges expunged from their record under legislation advancing in the state Legislature.

In a vote Wednesday, the Missouri House gave preliminary approval to a proposal that would notify people applying for a medical marijuana card that they could qualify to have previous possession charges sealed from public view.

The sponsor of the legislation said the state’s move to legalize medical marijuana made it time to move toward decriminalizing pot use.

The measure would allow for only specific misdemeanors to be expunged. Charges having to do with physical assault, death and the sex registry would not be permitted to be sealed. Those convicted of trafficking and selling marijuana also would not qualify.

“We’re not asking that we go light on crime,” Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Dardenne Prairie, said. “We’re talking about small offenses here.”