Shore Legal Access

When Louis called Shore Legal Access to inquire about criminal record expungement, he was in a bit of a jam – he had been offered stable employment with a local agency that really sought his life experience and expertise, but he had an old record from his youth involving cannabis that is no longer even considered a crime. The record came up in his background check causing the new employment to be placed on hold. With help from one of Shore Legal Access’ volunteer attorneys, Louis was able to get the record expunged and his employment was approved.

Shore Legal Access is a partner in a statewide campaign to inform Marylanders about new laws allowing the expungement of almost all cannabis criminal records and to encourage individuals to expunge cannabis possession arrests, charges, and convictions, with assistance from free and low-cost legal-aid services. Governor Wes Moore’s mass pardon of low-level marijuana convictions is a crucial step towards addressing the injustices of cannabis criminalization.

However, many are unaware that pardons alone do not remove cannabis-related arrests,
charges, or convictions from public records. Even those who have received pardons can benefit significantly from expungement, as it shields records from public view, allowing greater access to employment, housing, and other life opportunities.