No plan for pot-conviction amnesty amid legalization move, Liberals say
The federal public safety minister says the plan to legalize recreational marijuana does not include a general amnesty for past pot convictions.
Ralph Goodale tells The Canadian Press not to expect a blanket pardon for people with records for possessing small amounts of the drug.
The C.D. Howe Institute, a prominent think-tank, has recommended the government consider pardoning people convicted of pot possession — and drop any outstanding charges — to free up much-needed resources for legalization.
Goodale notes there is already a formal process to have a criminal record set aside.