RI House Approves Bill that would Ban Public Disclosure of Decriminalized Marijuana Possession Charges

Earlier this month the Rhode Island House of Representatives approved a bill that would clarify the treatment of adult violations of Rhode Island civil violations of the marijuana law.  At conflict is whether to treat civil violations of possession of one ounce or less of marijuana as a publicly available "conviction" or to seal them from public view.

The prevailing view, prior to the introduction of the House bill, was that these civil violations were not publicly available records.  However, conflicting statutory provisions put that interpretation in doubt.  In an effort to clarify the situation and end all doubt, the House bill would seal first and second offense civil violations for possession of one ounce or less of marijuana from public disclosure.  The bill now requires passage in the Senate prior to becoming law.

To read the full article as covered by Katherine Gregg in the Providence Journal, follow this link:  http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150505/NEWS/150509566/13764

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