Few Pardons Issued for Cannabis Crimes in Canada Since 2019 Reforms

LOS ANGELES- Despite the federal government’s estimate that 10,000 Canadians would be eligible for conviction relief following the legalization of cannabis in 2018, only 845 pardons have been granted since 2019. Data from the Parole Board of Canada, reported by the CBC, highlights the slow progress in issuing pardons for cannabis crimes.

Since the pardon process began in August 2019, more than 1,300 citizens have applied for pardons, but many applications were either incomplete or ineligible. Andrew Tanenbaum, director of Pardons Canada, attributed the low number of pardons to the tedious nature of the process and a possible lack of motivation among eligible individuals to apply.

In 2022, an alternative program was introduced to automatically “sequester” records for simple possession, preventing them from appearing on background checks. This program aimed to sequester records for cannabis possession and other drugs within two years. However, NDP MP Randall Garrison, who supported the amendment, criticized the program as a “bureaucratic nightmare” and less effective than the pardon system.

Jean-Sébastien Comeau, spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, assured that the government intends to meet the program’s November deadline. He emphasized the need for cooperation with provincial, territorial, and municipal partners to ensure timely sequestration of records.

The limited number of pardons and challenges with the sequestration program reflect ongoing bureaucratic hurdles and highlight the complexities involved in providing conviction relief for cannabis offenses in Canada.