Healey to pardon some people with cannabis possession convictions

Gov. Maura Healey is expected to announce a blanket pardon for anyone convicted in Massachusetts of simple possession of marijuana, her office confirmed Monday. The Democrat appears poised to publicly discuss her pardon plans on Wednesday.

"Governor Healey has said that she intends to follow President Biden's lead and pardon simple possession cannabis convictions at the state level," her office said in a statement.

In October of 2022, President Biden ordered pardons for people convicted of simple possession convictions in federal courts and in Washington, D.C.

"Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit," Biden said when issuing the pardons.

After the president's move, Healey, then-attorney general, said that if elected, she intended to make a similar move.

The Boston Globe, citing sources familiar with her plans, first reported the governor's intentions to make good on that campaign promise this week, noting it was unclear how her administration might release its pardon recommendations or how many people might be eligible.

Healey has not been afraid to make use of her pardon powers while in office, issuing 13 in her first year. Last year, she also released guidelines she said she'll follow when considering pardon requests. Those guidelines include addressing systemic bias, the age of the offender and what the convicted person has done while in jail, including whether they accepted responsibility for their actions and have shown remorse.

WBUR's Amy Sokolow contributed reporting.