Bill > HB81

This bill amends Alaska state law to restrict the release of criminal justice information for specific marijuana possession cases. Under the new provisions, a criminal justice agency cannot release records for cases involving individuals who were 21 or older and convicted of possessing less than one ounce of a schedule VIA controlled substance (marijuana), provided they were not convicted of any other charges in the same case and they request that their records not be released. The bill modifies existing statutes about criminal justice information disclosure, adding a new section that specifically protects these marijuana possession records from being shared. This means that for eligible individuals, their marijuana possession conviction records will remain private and cannot be widely disseminated by government agencies. The new provision will be in effect from January 1, 2026, and the specific record protection clause will automatically expire on January 1, 2028, unless further legislative action is taken. The bill aims to provide some relief and privacy protection for individuals with minor marijuana possession convictions, potentially helping to reduce long-term stigma and barriers related to these past convictions.

Government Affairs

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB81