Cannabis Calendar: National Expungement Week

Nearly 500,000 people are currently in American jails or prisons for drug offenses, according to criminal justice reform organization Prison Policy Initiative, with police making over 1 million drug arrests each year. Although cannabis is legal in Colorado, volunteers for National Expungement Week, a week-long clinic of record-clearing, believe that the state's drug policy and legal system's treatment of past offenders still leaves room for improvement.

"Every person deserves the opportunity to move on once their sentence is complete. Without a path out of the criminal justice system, our society can never fully heal and realize the full potential of our community. Not only does record sealing open up opportunities in housing and employment, it restores dignity to those who deserve it," explains Abbey Moffitt Hruby, a defense attorney helping former drug offenders clear their records during National Expungement Week.

Moffit Hruby and other local volunteers with Expunge Colorado are offering free legal help to those with past drug charges in Colorado through Saturday, September 26, as part of National Expungement Week. The team of drug-reform activists and attorneys cleared almost forty criminal records during the last two NEW clinics, and hopes to increase that number this week. Find out more about National Expungement Week and other pot-related events in our Cannabis Calendar below.

National Expungement Week
Through Saturday, September 26
Created to clear the records of those affected by the War on Drugs, National Expungement Week has returned to Colorado, and this time the services will stick around afterward. A new local record-clearing chapter, Expunge Colorado, will now be around all year long to provide the same help after NEW's week-long virtual clinic of record sealing and legal advice for former offenders ends. Register for NEW week assistance on Eventbrite, or email expungeco@gmail.com for more information.

Cannabis Public Policy Conference
Wednesday, September 23, and Thursday, September 24
Cultivated Synergy
2601 Blake Street
Dozens of cannabis-industry executives and policy experts will descend upon Cultivated Synergy to talk about the future of the pot trade, including business issues such as banking, federal regulations, social equity and more. The conference will be held in person, but attendees can join virtually from their computers, too. Tickets start at $29 for virtual access and $199 to join in person.

MJ Unpacked
Wednesday, September 23, and Thursday, September 24
Learn about emerging cannabis markets in Oklahoma and the Midwest during this two-day virtual conference. On top of seven hours of cannabis business discussions and Q&As each day, there will be a virtual expo hall and vendors hanging around online throughout the event. Learn more and register for $99 on the conference's website.

Cannabis Sustainability Symposium
Monday, October 5, through Friday, October 9
The annual Cannabis Sustainability Symposium won't be held in person this year; instead, it's going online for five days. Learn about waste control, packaging, pest management, energy use and much more from professional speakers and panel discussions. Registration for all five days starts at $40, with early-bird discounts available.

Entering Cannabis: The Global Landscape
Wednesday, October 14, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Join over thirty speakers, twenty vendors and thousands of attendees virtually at this day-long cannabis conference for emerging industry professionals around the world. Each session covers different countries and international regions, and covers various aspects of the medical and recreational marijuana sectors. Register for free at Eventbrite.

Minority Cannabis Business Association Boot Camp
Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22
The Minority Cannabis Business Association and CohnReznick accounting services are holding a two-day marijuana business boot camp for diverse potrepreneurs. The virtual conference will teach you how to structure business entities, develop financial statements, prepare to raise capital, further develop pitch decks, and much more. Register to attend with the MCBA.

Know of more marijuana events? Send information to marijuana@westword.com.