Washington State Legislation Could Vacate 200,000 Marijuana Convictions

An estimated 200,000 convictions for misdemeanor possession of marijuana in Washington state could be wiped out under legislation lawmakers are debating.

The identical bills, SB 5605 and HB 1500, would require the sentencing court to vacate a conviction for misdemeanor marijuana possession if the person applying was 21 or older at the time of the offense.

People whose convictions are cleared then would be able to write on employment or housing applications that they never have been convicted of that offense, the News Tribune reports.