Birmingham Mayor Pardons 15,000 People With Marijuana Convictions

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Wednesday a blanket pardon for more than 15,000 people convicted of misdemeanor marijuana offenses. The pardon is part of Birmingham's Pardons for Progress program.

The pardon covers residents with closed marijuana possession cases in the City of Birmingham between 1990 and 2020. All additional one-time marijuana possession charges continue to be eligible for the Pardons for Progress program going forward, Woodfin said.

No action or fees will be required by people who have been convicted of misdemeanor marijuana charges in Birmingham municipal court.

"Millions of people, disproportionately from Black and Brown communities, have had their lives upended due to marijuana charges from decades ago," Woodfin said. "These charges have led to arrests, convictions and even jail time, as well as criminal records that make it harder to find housing, receive a good paying job to earn a living, or receive financial assistance to earn a college education."

Woodfin added, "Put simply these prohibitions do not make our city safer and only create barriers for many in our community to earn a good and honest living. One small mistake should not define an entire lifetime."

A marijuana possession conviction can appear on an individual's background check when seeking employment. In some cases, such a conviction eliminates the opportunity for employment.

"These pardons are a strong start and will have a positive impact on many lives today and moving forward," Woodfin said. "But since the state government does not permit 'home-rule' in Birmingham, I need you to join me in telling the State of Alabama to completely decriminalize marijuana and consider legalizing medical and recreational use like so many other states have."