HOPE Act Would Encourage States To Provide Marijuana Crime Expunctions

Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have banded together on a bill that would incentivize states to expunge marijuana-related charges. The bill, titled the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act, will give federal grants to cover the costs of identifying and clearing non-violent, eligible cases.
In a press release, the Republican Congressman noted the following:

"Having been both a public defender and a prosecutor, I have seen first-hand how cannabis law violations can foreclose a lifetime of opportunities ranging from employment to education to housing. The collateral damage caused by these missed opportunities is woefully underestimated and has impacted entire families, communities, and regional economies."

"By helping states establish and improve expungement programs for minor cannabis offenses, the HOPE Act will pave the way for expanded economic opportunities to thrive alongside effective investments to redress the consequences of the War on Drugs."

AOC, meanwhile, noted that the HOPE Act would help minorities who have been unfairly targeted by the war on drugs:

"As we continue to advocate for the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, this bipartisan bill will provide localities the resources they need to expunge drug charges that continue to hold back Americans, disproportionately people of color, from employment, housing and other opportunity."

This bill would give second chances to so many, and the fact that it is spearheaded by both a democrat and a republican could help it all the way through. The HOPE Act wouldn't legalize marijuana, but it would provide relief for those who need it most. It would make reparations for who have suffered under the immense weight of marijuana-related charges, even though the substance is now legal in many states.