A network of legal professionals is helping people criminalized by cannabis clear their records. Illinois has committed $1.6 million a year to fund the service, called “New Leaf,” but organizers said many who need the service don’t know about it. Advocates said that years after Illinois legalized recreational marijuana, many people have no clue how to expunge their records. Expungements started in Illinois in June 2019. Since then, Illinois State Police report more than 510,000 people have had their convictions and arrests tossed out. The state told News 4 that more than 800,000 Illinois residents have completed the expungement process, with more than half out of Cook County. Another 26,000 had their records expunged by governor’s pardon.

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