BOSTON - Governor Maura Healey announced a plan to pardon anyone in the state who has ever had a misdemeanor marijuana conviction. She expects hundreds of thousands of people to receive a pardon. 

For people like Devin Alexander, who was convicted of possession as a teenager, life was altered forever. He wasn’t able to go into the U.S. Air Force, and had to deal with the judgement of his peers. Decades later, he never expected to see something like this be available. 

“It followed me around. You know, people spoke very negatively about me. I would never do anything in life or never go anywhere because of this. Cannabis is still very heavily stigmatized,” said Alexander.

Years later, he now works in the cannabis industry and says he can see the perception changing around marijuana now that it's legalized. 

“Good people use weed all the time,” he said. “You know, I think it makes people happy and makes you feel more relaxed knowing nobody smokes a whole bunch of weed goes and commits domestic violence.”

When Healey was running for attorney general, she strongly opposed loosening marijuana laws. But she said she has evolved with the times and learned that misdemeanor convictions disproportionally impact Black and Latino communities. 

“I am about fairness and justice and equity, not just in our criminal justice system, but across the board when it comes to government,” said Healey. “We'll continue to look for and find ways and work together collectively, because this is about collective accountability on the steps we need to take to make things right.”

The governor’s council needs to vote and approve the pardons. But central mass governor’s councilmember Paul DePalo (D- District 7) said he already knows how he will vote. 

“These are convictions for things we don't consider crimes anymore, and they're convictions that disproportionately impacted poorer communities and Black and brown communities,” DePalo said. “So it's a win all around.”

The governor’s council plans to meet next on March 27. They do expect that this proposal will come up in that meeting. 

The governor also said if it is approved, there is nothing that people will have to do to get pardoned. It will happen automatically across the state. 

Sheriff Nick Cocchi, president of the Massachusetts Sheriff’s Association, released a statement.

“As Massachusetts sheriffs, we believe in giving people the tools and the opportunities to make the most of a second chance. I applaud Governor Healey for recognizing, due to legalization, the burden created by the simple possession charges and taking this step to right the wrongs of the past. This will give thousands of people a clean record upon which to build a better tomorrow for themselves, their family, and their community,” he said.