The Sonoma County, California district attorney’s office will “proactively” search for cannabis convictions eligible for reduction or dismissal under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation Safety Act. District Attorney Jill Ravich indicated that there have been “dozens” of convictions already reduced and dismissed but estimated there is still about 3,000 more that have not been acted upon.
“With Proposition 64 California voters clearly indicated their intent to offer people convicted of cannabis related offenses to have their records cleared. Further, the state legislature is currently contemplating legislation that would pave the way for the automatic expungement or reduction of cannabis related convictions. Therefore, my goal is to do whatever I can within the resources at my disposal to be consistent with this intent.” – Ravich in a press release
How does it work? The office has set up a website for citizens to determine whether their cannabis-related case is subject to any reduction or dismissal under the law. The district attorney’s office is working with cannabis consultants 421 Group and attorney Omar Figueroa in the process.
Almeda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón have each also announced that their offices would take a proactive approach to dismissing or reducing cannabis crimes under the state law.