(From the 2017 Archives)

Imagine applying for the perfect job (or apartment, loan, etc). You submit an amazing application and rock the interview. But, a background check reveals you were arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession before the passage of Amendment 64. And, even though it is now legal, you find yourself being turned down (often without explanation).

For many Colorado residents, this scenario is all too familiar. Past marijuana arrests – even for behavior that is now legal – can negatively impact employment, housing, education, childcare, and countless other areas of an individual’s life.

You might have even experienced the lingering effect of a past marijuana arrest first hand. If so, we’ve got some exciting news!

Thanks to a new bill that has passed the Colorado House and Senate, individuals arrested before Dec 10, 2012 for marijuana behavior that is now legal may be eligible to have those criminal records sealed.

How Many People Will HB 1266 Affect?

Marijuana-related charges for possession and cultivation dropped by nearly 50 percent across the state between 2012 and 2014 (from nearly 13,000 to 7,000), according to the CO Department of Public Safety.

The drop in arrests is saving the state millions of dollars each year, and it helps highlight the role marijuana prohibition has played in the Drug War and the growing prison population. But, what does it say about the expected impact of HB 1266?

With the passage of HB 1266, many individuals have an opportunity to move forward without the stigma of a criminal record for a choice that today would result in no worse than a frown from a disapproving neighbor.

It’s a bit of an oversimplification, but let’s assume 50 percent of all past marijuana arrests were for activities that are now considered legal, such as an adult possessing less than an ounce. That would work out to more than 100,000 people who might be eligible to seal their marijuana criminal records.

And, that’s just looking at marijuana arrests between 1986-2010.

100,000 people who could have an easier time finding work and housing… That’s reason to celebrate, whether or not you have a past arrest on your record.

Karing Kind is Boulder’s First Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

We’ll continue to bring you updates on all the biggest marijuana news across the state and the nation. In the meantime, we invite you to stop by the store to say hello and browse our wide selection of clean-grown bud, concentrates, and edibles.

We strive to offer a top-tier experience every time you enter our store. Our extensive menu, award-winning budtenders, and the lowest marijuana tax rate in the state make us the perfect Colorado cannabis destination.

Karing Kind is located just off of US-36, one mile north of Broadway, open daily from 9am to 10pm.

While we carry a variety of strains, concentrates, edibles, salves and tinctures, inventory and stock levels fluctuate from week to week and month to month. Check our menu and follow us on Twitter for an up-to-date list of edibles, concentrates and buds available now.