Missouri Courts Work Overtime Clearing Marijuana Charges, Seek Additional $3.7M To Clean Up Backlog
Missouri circuit courts have cleared more than 100,000 marijuana charges from the criminal records of individuals according to the Missouri Independent. In order to address the burden of expungements mandated by law, state lawmakers set aside $4.5m to cover overtime expenses and temporary staff wages. The state county courts have had $4.2m in total funds from the Circuit Court Budget Committee, however, Betsy AuBuchon, a clerk of the Missouri Supreme Court, has requested an additional $3.7m for the next fiscal year. The source of the money is taxes levied on recreational marijuana and fees from cannabis businesses. The deadline for expunging all misdemeanour cannabis charges was 8 June with felony charges necessary by 8 December 2023. Speaking to a state representative, AuBuchon said the courts are "doing our best" to clear the backlog.
