The federal government is considering pardons for marijuana-related convictions once pot becomes legal on October 17th.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has remained vague on the issue saying there's no reason to talk specifics while recreational cannabis is still illegal.
Statistics Canada says is 2016, alone, 17,000 people were charged with marijuana possession.
NEWSTALK 1010's chief legal expert Edward Prutschi says pardons are logical and would be a good move by Ottawa. "Imagine is everybody who drank liquor in prohibition-era Canada wasn't able to get a job, wasn't able to travel freely because they were once drinking beer or wine at some after-hours club. So, the idea of reconciling today's legal reality with yesterday's legal consequence, I think, is a good one."
He expects those guilty of simple possession will be eligible for a pardon. "Simple possession of marijuana, away from school zones, not involving driving, for quantities typically under 30g. That's about the lowest level scenario that you have."
While many believe a pardon is quick, completed with one stroke of a pen, Prutschi says it can take awhile. "Bureaucracy will tell you that it's something that can be done in 6-8 weeks. In my experience with clients, something inevitably goes wrong with that processing period and it's typically something that's more in-line with a number of months. The sooner you get your paperwork organized properly, yeah, I guess in theory it could be worked through the system in a matter of weeks."
Being pardoned, though, won't mean a person's possession charge is buried forever. "You had a record but we're putting it, basically, in another box. Yes, the government still has access to that box and in some circumstances when you conduct high-level security clearance it may still create problems for you," Prutschi explains.