It’s been 4 years since cannabis legalization. And while many of us have and continue to the enjoy the benefits of legalization, an estimated 500,000 Canadians with criminal records for cannabis related offences do not.
If you were convicted of simple cannabis possession before 2018—something that is no longer illegal—you are still considered a convicted criminal and may be shut out from employment opportunities, access to loans, travel and in some cases, even the custody of your children.
While Canada was at the forefront of legalization, we’ve fallen far behind when it comes to amnesty and equity. That is why we are fighting to clear cannabis-related criminal records and heal the scars left by the failed war on drugs. Join us today.
Named directly after the cause itself, Cannabis Amnesty is an independent, not-for-profit organization focused on righting the historical wrongs caused by decades of cannabis prohibition, particularly its impact on racialized and Indigenous communities who historically, have been overrepresented in cannabis arrests.
It was founded in April 2018 in response to the absence of federal legislation addressing the serious consequences of criminal convictions for actions that would no longer be illegal under the new Cannabis Act. We believed that no one should continue to be punished for something that is no longer illegal.
Since then, Cannabis Amnesty has been working tirelessly to fight for legislative change to address the disproportionate impact of cannabis prohibition on vulnerable groups. In 2022, we expanded our efforts beyond advocacy, and are building our capacity to offer direct support to individuals and communities harmed by prohibition.
“Together, we will right the wrongs of the past and help thousands of Canadians reclaim their lives.”
Canadians with cannabis records
More Indigenous arrest for cannabis
Number of C-93 pardons granted
Industry leaders are Black & Indigenous
Cannabis Amnesty is at the forefront of addressing the disproportionate impact of cannabis prohibition on vulnerable and marginalized groups and our efforts are focused on 4 areas:
1. Advocating for Justice Reform: We engage in lobbying efforts that push for justice reform, including full cannabis amnesty, the full decriminalization of cannabis, procedural and substantive legal reform around the prosecution and sentencing of cannabis offences as well as compassionate and health-based solutions to other drug crimes. We also advocate against illegal police actions around detention, search and seizure, and the use of force.
2. Addressing Collateral Consequences of Cannabis Convictions: We develop public educational resources, advocacy campaigns and programming that address barriers to employment, education, housing, travel and volunteer work that exist because of cannabis conviction records.
3. Challenging the Legal Industry: We work with industry leaders to encourage and promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the cannabis industry in Canada.
4. Challenging the Social Stigma associated with Cannabis Convictions: We challenge the notion that people who have cannabis convictions on their records are bad people. There are 500,000 of them– they are our neighbours, our friends and our colleagues.
