420NJEvents Expungement Clinic For Cannabis Charges Helps “Clean The Slate” For 78 New Jersey Residents

Black-owned cannabis lifestyle brand 420NJEvents hosted a free Expungement Clinic September 14th in Newark, NJ that cleared low-level cannabis charges for New Jersey residents. Thanks to pro-bono legal assistance from Brach Eichler LLC, 78 guests walked away from the Newark DoubleTree with a new lease on life - in the form of either a clean slate, or the resources and legal help they need to get there, for free! Upon sign in, guests were greeted by 420NJEvents Co-Founders Brendon Robinson and Stanley Okoro and other event sponsors, who completed a Covid-19 wellness check and collected contact information. When guests entered the main ballroom, they were gifted a packet of resources to help them navigate the new legal cannabis market in NJ, ushering them into the legal landscape from the once-illicit market. When a guest’s number was called, they met with a certified legal professional from Brach Eichler LLC who gave them personalized, actionable advice for expunging cannabis charges from their criminal record for good.  One guest was waiting outside an hour before the clinic started, eager to take back his future - there was an air of gratitude, excitement, and relief in the air when the rest of the guests finally arrived, making it clear to see how crucial expungement resources are for New Jersey residents. “People's lives are still being negatively impacted by cannabis charges and convictions,” said Stanley Okoro, President of 420NJEvents. “They are being denied jobs and robbed of opportunities. The goal of our clinic is to restore some of those opportunities.” As part of his Second Chance Agenda, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that creates a petition process for criminal record expungement for New Jersey residents who have not committed an offense in ten years. Thanks to this legislation, some clinic guests were able to expunge their records on the spot, and others were directed toward applying for New Jersey’s Clean Slate Program or Drug Court Program. Clinic guests who couldn’t get their records cleaned immediately will receive ongoing, pro-bono legal assistance from the lawyers from Brach Eichler LLC until their charges are expunged permanently.  “I grew up without my father because of cannabis,” explains Brendon Robinson, VP, National Sales Director of 420NJEvents. “I watched him serve ten years in prison only to come home and struggle to find employment because of his felon status. I often thought about how much different his life could have been post-prison if he was truly given a second chance, and I know there are millions of others in the same predicament.” Cannabis possession is now legal in New Jersey, but pre-legalization possession of cannabis leaves a damaging felony charge on the records of many residents. Those with felony, or even misdemeanor convictions, are often barred from high-paying jobs and have no chance at career mobility. These non-violent, often simple and small charges can have a decades-long impact on the people who hold them, making it nearly impossible for them to move forward after getting arrested. “I was just trying to feed my family when I was arrested for possession of marijuana,” says one grateful expungement clinic guest. “Ten years later, I’m stuck with a felony.” When asked what his life will look like after expungement and what his goals are, he said “I just want a better job. I’m not a bad person.” In response to the overwhelming success of the expungement clinic, 420NJEvents will be hosting a Career Workshop to help New Jersey residents move from the once-illicit market into the newly legal cannabis industry. From providing professional headshots to tweaking resumes, guests will be able to take their newly clean records and apply for the career opportunities that they’ve been wrongfully denied for too long. Additionally, 420NJEvents will be providing the attendees with free Google Chromebooks to help them navigate the web as they build their new career.  420NJEvents would like to wholeheartedly thank Brach Eichler LLC, Columbia Care, Reeform NJ, The Apothecarium and Minority Cannabis Academy for sponsoring this life-changing event, supporting those affected by the War on Drugs, and joining together to help New Jersey residents clear their records and live the lives they rightfully deserve. For more information regarding cannabis charge expungement or the upcoming career workshop, visit 420njevents.com. You can also check our a quick recap of the event by clicking here.