New Leaf Illinois Launches Statewide Alliance to Assist with Cannabis Conviction Relief
GCLC joins other nonprofits to provide legal services for people in Illinois with cannabis-related convictions, helping remove barriers to secure employment and housing
New Leaf Illinois has created a statewide alliance 20 of organizations—including Greater Chicago Legal Clinic—that will provide legal and advisory services to help people clear cannabis convictions from their records.
“At the heart of our cannabis legalization effort was the concept of a three-legged stool—representing restoration, reinvestment, and inclusion,” said Illinois Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-14), one of the lead sponsors of the 2019 cannabis legalization legislation.
“Expungement for those with previous cannabis records is a key element of this new path forward,” Cassidy continued. “And today, the New Leaf Illinois program is helping to embody these principles by working to restore communities who’ve been hit hardest by the war on drugs, reinvest in individuals who continue to be unfairly punished by past convictions, and include everyone, especially those who have been historically marginalized and shut out.”
New Leaf Illinois is an initiative of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports innovative, cost-effective legal aid programs designed to empower clients to resolve legal issues and regain control of their lives.
Earlier this year, GCLC announced its participation in the new criminal records clearance program, which was created as part of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, passed by the Illinois legislature in 2019. The alliance was made possible by specific funding requirements included in the 2019 law.
Since the law went into effect on January 1, 2020, Illinois no longer considers cannabis a crime. New Leaf asks the question: So why does your record say otherwise?
Within the larger New Leaf network, the Clinic will collaborate in particular with fellow grantee and long-term partner, the Alliance of Local Service Organizations (ALSO), a neighborhood agency that coordinates services for youth and families on Chicago's Northwest side.
ALSO will focus on community information and outreach, connecting program attorneys with people who will benefit from criminal record clearance, and getting the word out that services are available at no cost to people who qualify.
“I was able to go and get my record expunged and so many doors just opened up,” said Jorge Matos, Director of Safe Streets at ALSO. “With our support and the lawyers on our team, we walk them through that process.”
“There are a lot of people in this community that can do a lot of great things,” Matos continued. “It’s just these barriers that are holding them back.”
The 2019 legislation legalizes and regulates the production, consumption, and sale of cannabis in Illinois. It contains provisions regarding personal possession, sale and sales tax, and expungement provisions.
New Leaf Illinois estimates that 778,000 cannabis convictions are eligible for automatic expungement, with a further 71,000 that could qualify but require petitions be filed in court. The program will help people determine their eligibility for relief through its online portal.
Detailed information can be found on the New Leaf Illinois Frequently Asked Questions page. Information about the ALSO/GCLC partnership can be found on ALSO’s website.