Marley Natural to help clear marijuana records

Marijuana company Marley Natural is offering to help clear the criminal records of cannabis convicts in Portland, Oregon, USA.

According to information gathered from USA TODAY, Marley Natural will be working closely with the Minority Cannabis Business Association in Oregon to help men and women who have been convicted of non-violent cannabis-related offences file a motion to set aside felony and non-felony arrests or conviction charges. For those persons whose charges qualify for expungement, the charge will be erased from their criminal records.

The initiative is known as the Rise Up Expungement Day project. Officials said they expect that about 30 people will qualify for expungement requests, which can cost several hundred dollars each, money that will be paid by Marley Natural.

"This is done in the spirit of giving back to communities that have been impacted by the cannabis prohibition," said Cedella Marley, Bob Marley's daughter and spokesperson for Marley Natural. "Laws that demonised people who use the herb do not reflect what my father believed to be true."

Criminal record

Marley told USA TODAY that a clean criminal record is often key to a job and, with marijuana now legal in Oregon, people with criminal records from minor possession crimes should not be limited or overlooked because of those charges.

On August 24, Marley Natural's all-natural, sun-grown premium cannabis products, as well as smoking and other lifestyle accessories, were made available at all Serra and Nectar dispensaries in the Portland metro area and Eugene. Marley Natural's product lines include four categories of all-natural, locally sourced, sun-grown cannabis flower, pre-rolls and oil, body-care products, and a collection of smoking accessories. The brand was launched in Los Angeles on February 6, 2016, Bob Marley's 71st birthday.

Marley Natural cannabis is also currently available in dispensaries across northern and southern California. Lifestyle accessories and body-care products are available nationwide at speciality retailers, as well as online at www.MarleyNaturalShop.com.

It is expected that by the end of 2016, Marley Natural cannabis products will also be available in Washington.