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Marijuana possession cases set to be expunged as courts sift through thousands of records – The Daily Gazette

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Sevell Graham remembers being convicted of possessing marijuana in New York as if it were yesterday.

But it was nearly 15 years ago. 

Graham, who lived in Schenectady from 2011 to 2019 and now attends college in Atlanta, said he was in a car with a friend in Oneida County when they were pulled over by police.

His friend, who was on probation, had a bag of cannabis on him. 

“Thinking stupidly, I said it was mine, and I ended up paying,” said Graham, who’s now 33 and grateful that his case might be expunged through legislation that legalized possession of marijuana for adults last year. 

State courts are still sifting through thousands of cases that are set to be tossed because of the law.

As a result of the conviction, Graham, an occasional pot smoker, said he paid about $1,200 in court costs and surcharges, and was required to attend an outpatient treatment center. 

“It was a mess,” he said. “I missed work [as a municipal trash hauler] because I had to attend that program.”

The conviction was also an embarrassment, particularly whenever he went looking for a new job during his eight years in Schenectady.

But over time the stigma decreased, Graham said.

“I felt like every time it came up, I had to present it in a way to where it had just happened, and I didn’t like that,” said Graham, who’s studying civil engineering at Morehouse College.

Graham said he’s happy times have changed, and for last year’s passage of the law.

“I don’t…

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Sevell Graham remembers being convicted of possessing marijuana in New York as if it were yesterday.

But it was nearly 15 years ago. 

Graham, who lived in Schenectady from 2011 to 2019 and now attends college in Atlanta, said he was in a car with a friend in Oneida County when they were pulled over by police.

His friend, who was on probation, had a bag of cannabis on him. 

“Thinking stupidly, I said it was mine, and I ended up paying,” said Graham, who’s now 33 and grateful that his case might be expunged through legislation that legalized possession of marijuana for adults last year. 

State courts are still sifting through thousands of cases that are set to be tossed because of the law.

As a result of the conviction, Graham, an occasional pot smoker, said he paid about $1,200 in court costs and surcharges, and was required to attend an outpatient treatment center. 

“It was a mess,” he said. “I missed work [as a municipal trash hauler] because I had to attend that program.”

The conviction was also an embarrassment, particularly whenever he went looking for a new job during his eight years in Schenectady.

But over time the stigma decreased, Graham said.

“I felt like every time it came up, I had to present it in a way to where it had just happened, and I didn’t like that,” said Graham, who’s studying civil engineering at Morehouse College.

Graham said he’s happy times have changed, and for last year’s passage of the law.

“I don’t…

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Source: https://mmpconnect.com/marijuana-possession-cases-set-to-be-expunged-as-courts-sift-through-thousands-of-records-the-daily-gazette/
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