STATE-FUNDED CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES TWO YEARS OF FREE MARIJUANA EXPUNGEMENT
PHOENIX, ARIZONA–JULY 12, 2023–Today marks the second anniversary of marijuana expungement in Arizona, thanks to the 2020 passage of Proposition 207. And the Reclaim Your Future campaign is commemorating the day by reminding people who have a marijuana-related conviction or arrest history that EXPUNGEMENT IS FREE!
“Considering that the State of Arizona received total tax revenue of nearly $256 million in 2022, legal fees to exercise one’s expungement rights and undo a conviction for an offense that no longer exists should be considered obsolete,” said Martin Hutchins, an attorney and program manager for the Reclaim Your Future campaign.
Though voters overwhelmingly legalized adult recreational use of marijuana in Arizona, as well as a pathway to expungement, Prop 207 did not automatically clear past convictions related to marijuana offenses. The costs to someone seeking expungement through a private attorney average between $1,500 and $4,000 per case. To help individuals move forward in life without a conviction or arrest history, free marijuana expungement services are available as an accessible and practical solution, making it advantageous to seek services provided by organizations like the Reclaim Your Future campaign, the only state-funded expungement effort in Arizona.
“We understand that people who have been caught up in the criminal punishment system have a well-earned skepticism about programs and services associated with the state or with government,” said Caroline Isaacs, executive director of Just Communities Arizona, a coalition member of the Reclaim Your Future campaign. “But it’s important to remember that expungement was approved and is actually funded by the voters of Arizona.”
Other advantages of choosing free expungement legal services, like the Reclaim Your Future program, as opposed to those offered by private attorneys outside our coalition, include:
- A simplified process
- Inclusivity and accessibility
- Community support and resources
- Efficiency and timeliness
People with a marijuana conviction or arrest on their record can find out for free if they are eligible for expungement by taking the Reclaim Your Future expungement eligibility test here.
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The Reclaim Your Future campaign is organized by the Arizona Marijuana Expungement Coalition and is funded by the Arizona Department of Health Services to help people expunge their marijuana-related conviction histories. Our Coalition is composed of community legal services and advocacy organizations from across Arizona.
