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The Law
The Adult-Use Cannabis Act enacted in 2023 eliminates certain cannabis-related offenses. A key part of this law is how it will impact people with marijuana-related records whose crimes are no longer considered crimes.
The process is called expungement – or sealing of records. Sealing records is intended to remove barriers for people with cannabis-related offenses who are subject to a background check for a job or housing. Expunged records are not destroyed, but they are removed from the public view and will not appear on background checks. In addition, the law also allows for resentencing as an option for certain eligible cases.
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Board Information
A new Cannabis Expungement Board has been created to review eligible felony and certain misdemeanor level cannabis-related conviction/stay of adjudication records and determine eligibility for expungement or resentencing.
The Board consists of 5 voting members, an Executive Director, and staff. Read more about the board members here. Read more about the executive director here.
The Cannabis Expungement Board is a new state agency and is in the process of hiring staff. We anticipate that the Board will begin to review and consider cases for expungement or resentencing before the end of 2024.
Staffing positions will include attorneys, paralegals, and administrative support staff. To view open job opportunities with the Cannabis Expungement Board or with other State Agencies, visit Careers at www.mn.gov/careers or in Self Service if you are a current State of Minnesota employee.
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Staff
Jim Rowader, Executive Director
Jim is the Executive Director of the Cannabis Expungement Board (CEB), appointed to this position by Governor Tim Walz. Jim brings to the CEB an extensive legal career with executive-level experience. Prior to his appointment, Jim served as the Director of People and Culture with the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota (ACLU-MN) and as the City Attorney for the City of Minneapolis. Prior to his public service, Jim spent the bulk of his career with Target Corporation rising to Vice President and General Counsel for Employee and Labor Relations. Jim currently serves on the board of the Minnesota Justice Research Center, and previously served on the boards for the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, ACLU-MN, and the Minneapolis United Soccer Association. He earned his B.A. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Mark Haase, Deputy Director and General Counsel
Mark Haase is Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Cannabis Expungement Board. He previously served as Executive Officer to the Ramsey County Attorney, where he led strategic policy implementation and represented and advised on a wide range of matters. In prior leadership roles, he established and led Minnesota’s Office of the Ombudsperson for Corrections as well as provided multiple organizations with policy development and lobbying services through his consulting firm. He also served as Vice President of the Council on Crime and Justice, co-founded the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition, and was the founding Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center. Mark received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota and his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas and is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard and Army Reserve.
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Upcoming Board Meetings
The April public meeting of the Cannabis Expungement Board will be on April 9th at the Department of Corrections, 1450 Energy Park Drive, in the Afton Conference Room.
Unless otherwise noted, the Cannabis Expungement Board will take formal action on cases involving a conviction or stay of adjudication for an offense involving the sale or possession of marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols. Meetings are open to the public and are not currently being livestreamed.
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Previous Meetings
The Cannabis Expungement Board has held the following Public Meetings:
February 12, 2025—There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
January 9, 2025—There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
December 27, 2024– There was review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
November 27, 2024– There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
October 16, 2024 – There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
September 18, 2024 – There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
August 28, 2024 – There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
July 25, 2024 – There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
June 14, 2024 – There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
May 14, 2024 – There was no review of cannabis-related felony cases at this meeting.
