{"id":113568,"date":"2022-09-12T23:14:43","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T03:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113568"},"modified":"2022-09-12T23:15:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T03:15:18","slug":"schlossberg-schweyer-to-host-sept-16-town-hall-on-pa-marijuana-pardon-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113568","title":{"rendered":"Schlossberg, Schweyer to host Sept. 16 town hall on PA Marijuana Pardon Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

ALLENTOWN, Sept. 12 \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>State Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer will host a town hall with Pennsylvania Board of Pardons Secretary Celeste Trusty this Friday, Sept. 16 to discuss the new Pennsylvania Marijuana Pardon Project.<\/p>\n

The lawmakers said the event \u2013 which starts at 3 p.m. at Resurrected Life Community Church at 144 N. 9th<\/sup>\u00a0St. \u2013 will provide residents and community members with a chance to learn about the pardon project and ask questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pennsylvania Marijuana Pardon Project offers people convicted of extremely low-profile marijuana offenses the opportunity to move on with their lives,\u201d said Schlossberg, D-Lehigh. \u201cI am thrilled to work with Representative Schweyer, Mayor Tuerk and Lt. Governor Fetterman\u2019s staff to make this event possible.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cResponsible recreational marijuana should be legal in Pennsylvania,\u201d said Schweyer, D-Lehigh.\u00a0\u201cBut until that day comes, we should stop punishing people for using cannabis when it is legal just on the other side of the Delaware River. I\u2019m proud to help host this event so that many people in our region can clear their names and move on with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many people are burdened with a criminal record for something most of us don\u2019t even think should be illegal,\u201d Trusty said. \u201cWe are so excited to help as many people as possible get on their way to a clear record through the PA Marijuana Pardon Project. The application is free and available online \u2013 the only thing you have to lose is your record!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople make bad choices over the course of their lives. We believe in second chances and recognize that small mistakes can be learning opportunities,\u201d said Matt Tuerk, Allentown mayor. \u201cThe commonwealth is giving Allentonians an opportunity for good outcomes by clearing that slate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gov. Tom Wolf and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman announced the Pa. Marijuana Pardon Project on Sept. 1 for people with certain minor, non-violent marijuana criminal convictions. Pennsylvanians eligible for the opportunity to be pardoned are those with one or both of the following convictions:<\/p>\n