For decades, a cannabis conviction from 1980 trailed Roosevelt Myles, lingering on his record long after he served his time. Myles, an Illinois resident, spent nearly three decades behind bars for a murder he maintained he did not commit. An appellate court later overturned the conviction, and a judge granted him a certificate of innocence after finding no physical evidence connected him to the crime.
When he was released in 2020, Illinois had already legalized recreational cannabis and created a process to clear certain marijuana offenses. With help from attorneys at New Leaf Illinois, an online resource that assists with record clearing, Myles petitioned to seal his cannabis conviction and expunge the wrongful murder charge. Last fall, a judge approved both requests.
Earlier that year, Myles said he was turned down for a job due to his criminal history. The court’s decision felt like a major step forward after what he described as reaching his lowest point.
His case, however, stands in contrast to statewide trends. Research from the Paper Prisons Initiative estimates that about 2.2 million Illinois residents were eligible to clear or seal their records in 2021. Yet only around one in ten had filed the necessary paperwork.
Advocates cite several obstacles for this gap, including limited awareness, court costs, prolonged wait times, and fear of navigating the legal system. Lawmakers hope the recently approved Clean Slate Act will help. Beginning in 2029, the law will automatically seal eligible nonviolent records for more than 1.7 million people.
Not all legislators supported the change, however. Senator Steve McClure argued that automatic sealing could prevent employers and families from accessing important background information, particularly in cases involving financial abuse of older adults.
Even after a judge signs an order, records are not always updated right away. By law, agencies have 60 days from the date of receiving a court order to comply, but delays are common. Myles said that although his sealing order was approved in October 2025, he has yet to receive confirmation from the state police that his record has been changed. Until the state’s criminal history database reflects the change, background checks may still show the old charges.
Meanwhile, the federal government is considering reclassifying cannabis to acknowledge its medical use and lower potential for abuse. Legal experts say that the shift would not change eligibility rules in Illinois, since record clearing is governed by state law.
Some argue that federal reclassification could impact contested cases, particularly in counties where judges are more likely to be skeptical of expungement requests. Still, they emphasize that meaningful relief depends on efficient implementation at the state level.
For Myles, recent reforms offer hope, but closure remains out of reach as long as his records remain in limbo.
Marijuana businesses like Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) based on Illinois and those operating in other states with legal marijuana markets will be hoping that laws requiring the expungement of certain cannabis-linked crimes are swiftly implemented in the spirit of providing restorative justice now that drug laws have evolved.
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