City of Seattle to clear misdemeanor marijuana convictions

SEATTLE -- The City of Seattle plans to wipe out misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions prosecuted by the city before pot was legalized in Washington.

Mayor Jenny Durkan and City Attorney Pete Holmes announced the decision in a news conference on Thursday.

“The City of Seattle has long been a pioneer in changing the way we approach marijuana. I was proud to end the practice of charging simple marijuana possession cases when I became City Attorney and to sponsor I-502 two years later. Today we are taking another important step by moving to vacate past convictions for conduct that is now legal,” said Holmes. 

I-502 legalized the possession and recreational use of marijuana in Washington for adults 21 and over.

The Seattle City Attorney's Office will ask the municipal court to vacate convictions and dismiss charges for misdemeanor possession prosecuted by the city.

Durkan's office provided these statistics about the racial disparities in these convictions:

“The war on drugs had devastating impacts on people, especially people of color and their families. People’s lives were ruined for misdemeanor marijuana offenses.  This action is a necessary first step in righting the wrongs of the past and putting our progressive values into action,” said Durkan.

“Addressing decades of unjust convictions – and particularly the damage wrought on communities of color – won’t happen overnight. We must provide more effective alternatives to prosecution and incarceration through drug and mental health courts, restoring rights and supporting re-entry," Durkan added.