Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced plans on Wednesday to pardon those in the state who have been convicted of simple marijuana possession. If approved by the Governor’s Council, the pardons would apply to all prior adult misdemeanor convictions for marijuana possession.
“We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of convictions,” Healey said. “It’s a sweeping, blanket pardon - all misdemeanor convictions for possession.”
Healey said the pardons, if approved by the council, will be “automatic.”
“People do not need to do anything,” she said. “You will be pardoned and it will be cleared from your record.”
Certainly not usable for legal precedent. I’m no expert, but this
A: didn’t happen in a court
And
B: wouldn’t be in the same jurisdiction as any other state that would want to do similar anyway.
Even if this had been decided by the courts, it wouldn’t have been a federal court. Precedent doesn’t jump state lines outside of federal court.