Episode 59 | Expunging Cannabis Convictions

CIAJ In All Fairness - ICAJ En toute justice

In this episode, Adjunct Research Professor Dr. Samantha McAleese from Carleton University and Lawyer Russell Bennett, founder of Cannabis Law, Barristers & Solicitors, tackle the topic of expunging cannabis convictions. Together, they discuss the evolution of cannabis law, and why they think changes are needed in a country that is constantly evolving.

Cannabis was officially legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018, but approximately 250,000 Canadians still have criminal records for personal possession of the drug. Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples are over-represented in arrests for cannabis possession. Following Canadian legalization, Bill C-93 allowed Canadians with simple cannabis convictions to suspend their records. In the United States, the disproportionate criminalization of African American and Latinx people was central to cannabis legalization and decriminalization.

The Canadian government is slowly taking action to follow the United States’ amnesty model. Bill C-5 would “sequester” criminal records for personal possession of all drugs two years after any sentence resulting from the conviction. While the bill’s passing would be a positive step, more needs to be done to truly repair the harm to communities most affected by drug possession convictions.

Speakers, documentation and more details on CIAJ's website