Colorado governor to mass-pardon 2,700-plus marijuana convictions
Action will be automatic for those who qualify
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis plans to mass-pardon 2,732 convictions of low-level marijuana possession through an executive order after signing a bill earlier this year that gave him that authority. “This really catches Coloradans up with where the law is today,” he said. House Bill 1424, passed by the General Assembly earlier this year, included a provision that allows the governor to pardon those who have convictions on their criminal records for possessing up to 2 ounces of marijuana — the current legal limit for medical marijuana users. Polis’ pardon, however, will only apply to convictions in state courts through 2012 of up to 1 ounce for recreational use, consistent with Colorado Amendment 64, passed by voters in 2012.