A pardon does not undo the fact that the conduct — in this case, misdemeanor possession of marijuana or paraphernalia — was illegal at the time of prosecution, but it forgives the legal consequences of the criminal conviction. A pardon is designed to stop future punishment or penalties for the forgiven offense.
Across the country and in Maryland, criminal records have been used to deny people housing, employment and education. This can hold them and their families back long after their sentences have been served, said Moore administration officials and advocates for criminal justice reform. During a news conference Monday, the governor said that a conviction “means a harder time for everything.”
Policy is power, he said, saying that throughout U.S. history, institutions and systems have been used to hold entire communities back for generations. “We know that we do not get to an 8-to-1 racial wealth gap because one group is working eight times harder,” he said.
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