If you have a criminal record for simple possession of cannabis, the federal government just made it easier to get a pardon.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale called it the logical next step after legalizing pot last October.
The government eliminated the $631 fee and waiting periods. Getting a pardon is now free.
Even those with outstanding fines and surcharges can apply to the Parole Board of Canada.
"Individuals who were disproportionately impacted by cannabis laws of the past, including visible minorities, Indigenous people, and those in our most vulnerable neighbourhoods can finally shed the burden and stigma of that criminal record and have the ability to move forward positively in their lives," said Goodale.
A pardon will make it easier for those with records to get a job, further their education, rent an apartment, and volunteer in their communities.