Aleece Burgio, Cannabis Team leader and co-chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Cannabis Law, is quoted in the Law360 article “NY Cannabis Law Is National Blueprint for Pot Expungement” about the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act’s (MRTA) progressive social equity provisions.
The MRTA, which is the most progressive cannabis legislation in the country, aims to give back to communities negatively impacted by the prohibition of marijuana in the form of tax revenue, being primary recipients of economic opportunities through receiving grants and licenses, and automatic expungement of cannabis-related convictions. Other states throughout the country, including Connecticut, New Jersey, and New Mexico, have modeled their expungement provisions after the MRTA.
Aleece said, “It’s not just trying to cut back the harm that was done decades ago when someone was arrested for having a joint in their pocket and ruined their life. It’s more so that, now, there is a strong commitment in including them to have economic gain from the industry.”