Lucas signs his first Kansas City marijuana pardon, urges other mayors to follow suit
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has issued his first pardon under a program aimed at providing second chances for people convicted of low-level municipal marijuana offenses, his office said Tuesday.
Lucas pardoned Dwayne Wright through his Mayoral Marijuana Pardon Program, which he announced the creation of in February. At the time, Lucas said he intended to pardon decades worth of municipal marijuana offenses.
The mayor’s office announced the first pardon in an interview with KSHB-TV.
“A lot of people, like Mr. Wright, who get caught up in the system spend the rest of their lives trying to climb out,” Lucas said in a news release, calling Wright a hard-working man. “I’m proud to clear one obstacle on his journey forward.”
In the KSHB interview, Wright said he was feeling hopeful and blessed. He thanked the mayor and clapped his hands as Lucas pardoned his marijuana possession conviction, saying he would frame the signed document.
In a Twitter post, the mayor said while Wright lives in Overland Park, he received the charge in Kansas City. Lucas said he hoped other mayors in the Kansas City metro and across the country “build on this program in their communities.”
“Now — no matter what job or housing he applies for, in or outside of KC — he knows this conviction has been pardoned,” he said.
The mayor’s office has received about 50 pardon requests, including a handful Tuesday after the KSHB story aired, a spokeswoman said.
Lucas has said he supports legalizing recreational marijuana statewide. He has called pardoning past offenders in Kansas City the “responsible” thing for his office to do.
Last month, City Council members voted to halt city penalties for marijuana possession, effectively decriminalizing most offenses.
More than two years ago, Kansas City voters dramatically eased municipal penalties for marijuana possession. Missouri is setting up its industry for medical pot. Jackson County prosecutors have stopped charging some drug crimes.
