Nearly three years after Minnesota legalized adult-use cannabis, thousands of residents continue to face barriers tied to marijuana convictions for conduct that is no longer considered criminal. State officials are working to address that legacy through an ongoing review of nearly 98,000 cannabis-related felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor cases that may qualify for expungement.
The Minnesota Cannabis Expungement Board (CEB), established by state lawmakers in 2023, is leading the effort to determine which convictions are eligible to be vacated, dismissed or removed from an individual’s criminal record.
Heather Faulkner, the board’s chief communications and external engagement officer, said many Minnesotans remain burdened by outdated convictions that can limit access to employment, housing and other opportunities.
To increase public awareness and connect eligible residents with available resources, the board is partnering with Roots Wellness Center to host an expungement assistance event on July 15 at the Urban League in North Minneapolis. Representatives from several organizations will be available to explain the expungement process, answer questions and help individuals determine whether their records qualify for relief.
The event will take place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Urban League offices, located at 2100 Plymouth Ave. in Minneapolis.
Minnesota’s cannabis legalization law established two primary routes for clearing eligible marijuana convictions. The first involves automatic expungement by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which has already removed approximately 60,000 qualifying misdemeanor cannabis convictions from criminal records. Individuals are encouraged to check Minnesota Court Records to confirm whether their cases have already been cleared.
Cases that were not automatically expunged are forwarded to the Cannabis Expungement Board for individual review. The board evaluates each case to determine whether it meets the legal criteria for expungement or dismissal and consults with the law enforcement agency involved before reaching a final determination.
Throughout the review process, applicants’ identities are kept confidential. Once a decision is made, the board sends written notification to the individual’s last known mailing address and files its determination with the court. A judge must then issue the formal order required to finalize the expungement.
State officials say the review process is intended to ensure that people are no longer disadvantaged by convictions for offenses that Minnesota law no longer treats as crimes, while providing eligible individuals with a clearer path toward employment, housing and other opportunities.
