Ohio Cannabis Entrepreneurs to Host Expungement Workshops

A pair of Ohio cannabis entrepreneurs are holding four cannabis expungement workshops this month, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

The workshops — which will be held on February 16 in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Cleveland — will be hosted by Ally Reaves, CEO of Cannabis Can! and the founder and president of Midwest Canna Women, and Nickole Ross, owner and COO of Noohra Labs.

Although cannabis possession is treated similarly in Ohio to a traffic ticket, a cannabis arrest can still have a negative impact on job prospects or housing. Furthermore, while decriminalization has spread across Ohio, many Ohioans are still arrested for cannabis crimes each year, the report says.

“It’s important for us to support our communities by helping them clean up their records. They have records that prevent them from participating in the cannabis industry and in life in general.” — Ross via the Dispatch

The clinics will have legal professionals in attendance to help participants navigate the expungement process. Applicants must submit a request for expungement and then a judge must approve the request in order for a cannabis crime to be expunged in the state. Additionally, cannabis business owners will be on hand to discuss getting a job in the cannabis industry, according to the report.

“We want to create opportunities for them,” Reeves said, adding that she’s held this type of clinic before and 40 people attended.

The clinics are free of charge but pre-registration is required to attend the events.