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September 2021 - Clearing the Record in Marijuana Cases

Gavel - Criminal CourtIf you or a loved one was charged with possession of marijuana, you may wonder how New Jersey’s new marijuana legislation affects previous convictions. The topic is complex.

The new State laws, in part, legalize the use and possession of marijuana by those age 21 or older, specifically possession and use of six ounces or less of marijuana on private property. The new laws decriminalized certain activities including:

  • Being under the influence of marijuana (except while driving)
  • Possession of marijuana-related drug paraphernalia
  • Possession of marijuana in a car
  • Certain disorderly persons charges relating to marijuana use.

Before this change, more than 30,000 marijuana-related arrests a year were made in New Jersey. With the new laws, State lawmakers now had to contend with how to handle prior convictions for activities no longer considered illegal.

Addressing this issue, State lawmakers ruled that all pending marijuana-related cases occurring on or before February 22, 2021, falling within the parameters of the new laws be dismissed. Additionally, all cases previously resolved through guilty pleas or verdicts be vacated, resulting in remaining time on jail sentences or ongoing supervision programs and unpaid financial assessments being forgiven. This, however, does not clear a person’s criminal record, which can hinder the ability to find employment, housing and obtain certain loans. The way to clear a criminal record is through expungement.

Expungement is the process in which a record of criminal conviction is sealed or, in some cases, destroyed; in effect, it is as if the conviction never occurred. State lawmakers ruled that criminal records of those who had their marijuana-related charges dismissed or convictions vacated would be expunged automatically. However, currently only completely digitized cases (i.e. those cases fully converted to electronic files) can be automatically expunged. An automated process for expunging cases with a hard-copy records, unfortunately, has yet to be developed.

There are an estimated 360,000 marijuana-related cases in New Jersey that qualify for expungement. If you have a case you believe qualifies for expungement, consider seeking counsel of a qualified attorney to help clear your record.

What Our Clients are Saying
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The absolute BEST!!! I have a family of attorneys but needed someone local. Victor was recommended to me and words cannot describe how pleased I was with his firm. The outstanding service and attention each member of his staff gave to me surpassed any and all expectations. Victor surrounds himself with a hardworking team that he leads. I felt it was money spent wisely. I will continue to recommend Victor and his associates.

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Mr. Rotolo has helped me numerous times in legal matters and has continued to support and help me through countless hardships. He is dedicated to providing the best service and is a true professional. I will continue to consult with him regarding any legal issues in the future. He is a respectable, hardworking, kind hearted man and I would recommend his legal services to anyone.

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I am an attorney and have practiced law for 26 years. I hired Vic to handle a very difficult family matter because I do not handle family law. Vic was extremely competent and obtained a result far beyond my expectations. Without his counsel my son's and family's life would have been changed forever. Thank you Vic for your good lawyering. I very much appreciate the personal attention and time dedicated to this matter. I highly recommend Vic.

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We recently had a situation where we needed to hire an attorney. We selected Kearns Rotolo Law and I can honestly say that we were above and beyond satisfied with Vic and his team. We would absolutely recommend this firm to anyone should the need arise. We blindly picked the firm out of the phone book because I liked his ad. Now I believe that God was pointing us in the right direction. Thank you Vic and Kearns Rotolo Law for being there for us in our time of need.

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Victor's expertise, due diligence, and empathy for his client made my first experience with the law (and last) a non-stressful one. Before the case, I did my research and looked over about 20 lawyers before choosing Victor. All my sources pointed to him as the best and they weren't off even a bit. Victor treated my case like it was his own and kept me up to date with all my appointments, breakthroughs in the case, and guided me step through step in a process that I never thought that I had to come to endure. If Victor's not available Susy will go out of her way to take care you. The productivity and efficiency in that office is second to none. Thank you Victor!

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