As increasing numbers of city and state governments move toward marijuana legalization, Kansas City introduces a free, online system to seek pardons for possession.
As city and state governments across the country legalize marijuana, Kansas City’s Mayor Quinton Lucas wants to make it easier for individuals convicted of marijuana and marijuana drug paraphernalia possession to clean up their records.
The mayor hopes cleaning up an individual’s records will make it easier for them to get a job or rent an apartment.
“We can do our level best to remove barriers,” said Mayor Lucas during his State of the Union address.
The pardons only apply for convictions of Kansas City municipal violation of marijuana possession and/or marijuana drug paraphernalia. They do not apply to convictions for State of Missouri marijuana laws and the Mayor can not pardon your conviction if you have other convictions of any violation of a Missouri State or federal law.
What is a Pardon?
A pardon, generally speaking, is the reversal of a conviction or sentencing. It’s legal forgiveness. However, a pardon does not erase our conviction from your criminal history record.
A pardon “forgives, but does not forget.” Your conviction will still be viewable by the general public.
If you are interested in keeping your conviction hidden from the public, you should apply for an expungement, which is not being offered here.
In addition, just because you apply doesn’t mean your pardon will be granted. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Application Process
There is no fee to apply for the pardon. Applications are available online at https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/city-officials/mayor-quinton-lucas/application-for-mayoral-pardon or at the KCMO City Clerk’s Office, 25th Floor, City Hall, 414 E. 12th St. KCMO, 64106.
The submitted forms and accompanying court documents showing the conviction, can be submitted via mail, email or in person, to Mayor Lucas, 29th Floor, City Hall, 414 E. 12th St. KCMO, 64106. Scanned Pardon Applications along with any accompanying documents may be emailed to Mayor Lucas at MayoralPardon@kcmo.org. Please label all packets or emails submitted to the Mayor with “Pardon Request.”
For information on how to get your conviction records, go to https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/municipal-court/case-information-and-records.
If you’re interested in receiving forms to apply for an expungement in Missouri, go to https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=649