ME LD1916

Criminal records for Class D and Class E marijuana possession and cultivation convictions committed between January 1, 2001 and January 30, 2017 would be automatically sealed, covering conduct now legal under Maine's adult use cannabis laws

The State Bureau of Identification must review criminal records monthly to identify eligible convictions and transfer qualifying records to the Administrative Office of the Courts for judicial review

Eligible individuals must have no subsequent convictions, no deferred dispositions, and no pending criminal charges in Maine or other jurisdictions to qualify for automatic sealing

Persons with sealed records may legally decline to disclose the conviction to non-criminal-justice inquiries without penalty, and cannot be charged with false statements for non-disclosure except when under oath during prosecution

The State may appeal sealing orders as a matter of right, while individuals denied sealing have no automatic appeal right but may still file a separate motion to seal under existing law; Supreme Judicial Court must establish appeal rules by January 1, 2026