Posted by Mitchell Jacobs on Nov 25, 2013
On November 6th, Washington State voters approved I-502, a new initiative that legalizes the cultivation, sale, and use of marijuana – a substance that is viewed by the Federal government as an illegal and dangerous substance. In fact, the only other state to legalize the use of marijuana for recreational purposes as oppose to medicinal is Colorado. The law was written with the intention to keep Washington safe by regulating black market activities, eliminating any illegal marijuana transactions. With that in mind, there are many strict limitations about new procedures regarding marijuana.
Who can legally cultivate and sell pot
The new initiative stipulates that only specially licensed Washington farmers may grow marijuana, and only private Washington businesses that are licensed and regulated by the state may sell marijuana. While the particular laws of I-502 are still being settled, the initiative makes it very clear that individual cultivation and sale of marijuana is still illegal and could result in charges.
Driving Under the Influence
The law prohibits driving under the influence and as such there will be an amendment to laws regarding driving under the influence to reflect the maximum threshold for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), cannabis, blood concentration. In other words, consumption of pot will be treated the same as consumption of alcohol for purposes of operating a vehicle. Also, like being under the influence of alcohol, while you are under the influence of marijuana you should consume responsibly as you are liable for any harm done to others and for property damages.
Places that it is still illegal to consume of have marijuana
Though you may legally be allowed to consume marijuana in Washington, it is crucial to remember that Washington’s marijuana laws will not be honored in any other state or on federal territory, which accounts for 30.3 percent of Washington. As such, you cannot travel with marijuana that has been legally purchased in Washington. Possession and consumption of marijuana will still be illegal in the following places:
- Federal parks (e.g. Mount Rainier National Park)
- Border checkpoints
- Post offices
- Ports of entry (airports, train stations and ship yards).
- Military bases
Do you have a drug charge in the state of Washington? RecordGone.com offers a free drug charge expungement eligibility test to see if you can get your record cleared. For more advice on clearing a drug charge, visit expungedrugcharge.com.
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Posted by Mitchell Jacobs on Aug 8, 2013
Not all cases are eligible for expungement; however, there is another option that may be beneficial. Seeking a pardon in the state where your conviction occurred may the best solution to receive criminal record relief.
In order to apply for a pardon, there are certain requirements that may need to be met and certain application procedures that must be completed. This information can be found in great detail at www.pardon411.com.
To be eligible for a pardon in Washington you must still be serving your sentence as a death row inmate, or you may apply for a pardon after you have been convicted.
To apply:
• Obtain the Pardon Application by completing the Petition for Reprieve, Commutation or Pardon form and following the detailed filing instructions.
• Prepare personal statement
• Letters of recommendation
• Once complete, submit completed Pardon Application to Washington State’s Governor’s Office at:
Washington State
Attn: Governor’s Office
416 14th Ave. SW
Olympia, WA 98504
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Posted by Mitchell Jacobs on Mar 8, 2013
Having your Washington criminal record sealed, expunged or vacated can be the best investment you make. It can lead to better paying jobs, federal loans, restoration of constitutional rights, and much more. Hire a lawyer that specializes in expungement to make sure your case is handled right.
Here is a snippet of the official Washington State law for vacating your record:
Vacating Disclosure
9.92.066 (for those who got a suspended sentence)….the statute says:
“(b) The clerk of the court in which the vacation order is entered shall
immediately transmit the order vacating the conviction to the Washington
state patrol identification section and to the local police agency, if any,
which holds criminal history information for the person who is the subject
of the conviction. The Washington state patrol and any such local police
agency shall immediately update their records to reflect the vacation of the
conviction, and shall transmit the order vacating the conviction to the
federal bureau of investigation. A conviction that has been vacated under
this section may not be disseminated or disclosed by the state patrol or
local law enforcement agency to any person, except other criminal justice
enforcement agencies.”
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Posted by Mitchell Jacobs on Mar 7, 2013
Let an Experienced Attorney Guide You Through the Record Expungement and Sealing Process
Having your Washington criminal record sealed, expunged or vacated can be the best investment you make. It can lead to better paying jobs, federal loans, restoration of constitutional rights, and much more. Hire a lawyer that specializes in expungement to make sure your case is handled right.
How To Choose An Expungement Attorney
Read some solid advice for choosing an attorney who can successfully expunge your Washington record. Read more.
Vacating Disclosure
9.92.066 (for those who got a suspended sentence)….the statute says:
“(b) The clerk of the court in which the vacation order is entered shall
immediately transmit the order vacating the conviction to the Washington
state patrol identification section and to the local police agency, if any,
which holds criminal history information for the person who is the subject
of the conviction. The Washington state patrol and any such local police
agency shall immediately update their records to reflect the vacation of the
conviction, and shall transmit the order vacating the conviction to the
federal bureau of investigation. A conviction that has been vacated under
this section may not be disseminated or disclosed by the state patrol or
local law enforcement agency to any person, except other criminal justice
enforcement agencies.”
9.95.240 (for those who have completed probation)…the statute contains
identical language as above.
9.96.060 (for those convicted of misdemeanors)…the statute contains
identical language as above.
9.94A.640 (for those, including felons, discharged under 9.94A.637)….the
statute does NOT contain that language; however, Washington appellate courts
have held that an offense that is vacated/dismissed under this section must
not be disseminated to the public either….so it has the same effect as the
other vacating statutes above.
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Posted by Mitchell Jacobs on Mar 7, 2013
Washington has many remedies for those seeking to clear their criminal past. Washington offers vacating a conviction and record sealing (expungement). Stop letting your criminal record keep you from a good job.
Trust us to make sure you get the maximum amount of relief in the fastest time possible.
When you are looking to have your Washington criminal record removed it is important to have a licensed expungement attorney working on your behalf. You can count on RecordGone.com’s experienced attorneys and trained staff to guide you through the entire process without ever having to come in for an expensive office visit or appear in court. Our attorneys and case managers have successfully cleared thousands of criminal records for our clients.
Choosing a licensed Washington attorney means you have the security of knowing your attorney will not disclose any personal information and you are protected by the client-attorney privilege. We have been successful in thousands of cases and have earned an “A” rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Expungement proceedings are quite complex and in many cases the outcome is up to the judge. Having RecordGone.com represent you will ensure that you do not end up waiting for months, or even years, because of simple mistakes that can start the process over.
Most attorneys do not practice solely in this area of law, and therefore they charge higher prices to perform these types of services. RecordGone.com has always been completely dedicated to criminal record removal, and that has enabled us to become experts in this area, streamline the process, and pass those savings on to our clients.
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