Passage of New Marijuana Ballot Measures May Effect Use of Criminal Records, Opines CriminalBackgroundRecords.com
Waltham, MA (PRWEB) November 16, 2016 -- Of the many different marijuana propositions decided upon during the recent November election Proposition 64 in California stands out insomuch that passage will affect currently incarcerated men and women convicted on low-level marijuana possession charges. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of CriminalBackgroundRecords.com comments on Proposition 64 stating: "Passage of 64 has an immediate impact with the release of inmates convicted of low level, non-violent marijuana related crimes and that will impact the background screening industry."
The Los Angeles Times paraphrases Proposition 64 neatly in the passage below:
From LATimes.com (Oct. 30, 16):
The initiative would allow Californians to possess, transport and use up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational purposes, and would allow people to grow as many as six plants. The measure would also impose a 15% tax on retail sales of the drug. (1)
Beyond legalizing recreational use of marijuana for adults, Proposition 64 provides for the release of criminals convicted of non-violent related crimes.
From Forbes.com (Nov. 11, 16):
“While the economic benefits of fully legalizing marijuana for adults has been clearly articulated, I believe that one of the greatest social impacts that hasn’t been publicized enough is that non-violent criminals who are in prison because of activities associated with cannabis will be released,” said Derek Peterson of Terra Tech Corp.. “Not only will this save the state taxpayer dollars, but it will allow these people a second chance to be productive members of society.” (2)
Adam Almeida comments: "Changes from Prop 64 will be immediate and impact a great many people currently in the system as well as those awaiting trial and/or final disposition."
From the Orange County Register (OCRegister.com, Nov. 4, 16):
Since Prop. 64 would reduce penalties retroactively, anyone who’s been convicted of a marijuana-related misdemeanor or felony in California could petition to have their sentences reduced or their records expunged...And some people with pending marijuana charges could see them automatically dropped or downgraded. (3)
Almeida comments: "In the end any legal action that affects existing law will immediately impact employment screening. Employers will have to be more cautious with their use of criminal background checks as part of pre-employment background screening. Just as Ban-the-Box legislation has caused some confusion in background screening, passage of Proposition 64, as well as similar ballot measures across the country, highlights the urgent and immediate need for all employers to work with a well-qualified third-party background screening agency in order to continually maintain compliance with law and accepted legal practice in the use of public documents used in background screening."
CriminalBackgroundRecords.com is a third-party background screening company that provides critical information to employers and organizations large and small. With the ability to provide up-to-date information from County Courthouses to accessing the most accurate databases, CriminalBackgroundRecords.com has the information hiring managers demand in order to make an informed decision.
Notes:
(1) latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-proposition-64-marijuana-legalization-qa-20161030-snap-20161029-story.html
(2) forbes.com/sites/debraborchardt/2016/11/07/could-californias-marijuana-law-affect-the-entire-country/print/
(3) ocregister.com/articles/marijuana-734244-prop-drug.html
Dan Adams, Criminal Background Records, http://www.criminalbackgroundrecords.com, +1 (877) 811-6557, [email protected]
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