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Bill would let people petition to have low‑level cannabis convictions annulled; law enforcement warns of workload and scope issues
Summary
House Bill 196 would let people request annulment review of past low-level cannabis convictions without paying a $300 filing fee; supporters framed the bill as fairness and rehabilitation, while state law-enforcement officials cautioned about implementation workload and statutory clarity.
House Bill 196 would change New Hampshire’s annulment procedures to allow people convicted of certain low-level cannabis offenses to request that the Department of Safety examine their arrest or conviction for possible annulment without the current $300 petition fee.
Sponsor Representative Wheelock framed HB 196 as a restorative measure: “This legislation would amend the statute to allow people to simply request that they can get an annulment hearing, without having to have the onerous $300 charge,” and said the change would remove a barrier to employment, military service and other opportunities for people with qualifying cannabis convictions.
Supporters’ case - Representative Wheelock and Dr. Joe Hannon described the bill as a fairness and reintegration measure that would let people clear records for low-level possession offenses (the sponsor described the targeted offenses as possession up to two…
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