Advocates for cannabis legalization in New York pushed for a law that would include expungement of marijuana convictions.
Five states, beginning with California in 2018, have enacted laws that automatically clear convictions of cannabis-related misdemeanors and some felonies.
When a criminal record is sealed, hard copies of pictures and fingerprints of a defendant are destroyed.
An expunged record is not a barrier to employment, including for jobs that require state-issued licenses, such as being a teacher or an accountant.