It has been one year since the government launched a program offering Canadians with a criminal record for simple pot possession a fast, free pardon — but only 257 people have been granted one so far. They're calling on the government to deliver an automatic removal of those criminal records. We know that a criminal record for the simple possession of cannabis creates barriers to accessing employment, housing and education. (Ted Dillon/CBC)The NDP has called for the automatic expungement of criminal records for pot possession, a measure many advocates and legal experts agree on. Still, he said there should be blanket amnesty instead of making people go through a difficult application process — especially during the global COVID-19 crisis.

Source: CBC News August 09, 2020 07:52 UTC