In 2022, we thought what can we do as a company to create a lasting impact in someone’s life? We understood there was a huge need for expungement. So we began planning and created the idea of a Stash Ventures Expungement Resource Fair. Of course, we couldn’t do it alone, and resulted in a year-long collaboration with Great Lakes Expungement Network, Honigman LLP, Indigrow, the Michael Thompson Clemency Project, and the City of Muskegon. Our goal was simple yet profound: to make a real and lasting impact on people's lives by offering a path to expungement and redemption.
Expungement is a critical issue in the cannabis industry and the broader criminal justice system. Many people continue to bear the burden of criminal records stemming from cannabis-related offenses, even in regions where cannabis is now legal. This lingering injustice is a stain on our society, preventing affected individuals from accessing safe and affordable housing, student loans, and well-paying jobs. It perpetuates a cycle of inequality and missed opportunities.
Expungement is the process of removing or sealing records related to an individual's involvement in the criminal justice system, making
them inaccessible to anyone other than law enforcement officials. Unfortunately, the process is often fraught with challenges, including a lack
of resources, time-consuming bureaucracy, and significant costs. As a result, many eligible individuals are unable to take advantage of the expungement process.