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Cannabis Records Impact Medicaid Work Requirements

barneyelias0
2 hours ago
1 min read

OG Article By Ashley Mizuo

September 17 2025

Overview

Starting in 2027, Medicaid recipients must meet work requirements. Criminal records, including those for cannabis, can hinder job applications.

Issue

In Hawaiʻi, possessing under 3 grams of cannabis was decriminalized five years ago. Yet, many still have arrest or conviction records eligible for expungement.

Challenges

Job Barriers: Criminal records limit access to traditional jobs, forcing reliance on side hustles.
Complex Process: Self-petitioning for record clearance is difficult to navigate.
Double Bind: Combining record clearance and work reporting creates significant obstacles.

Solutions

Automatic Clearance: Code for America advocates for state-initiated record clearance to simplify the process.
Pilot Program: Hawaiʻi Island tests automatic clearance of non-conviction cannabis arrest records.

Expert Insight

David Crawford, senior program director of Code for America’s Clear My Record program, emphasizes that state-driven clearance is more efficient than individual petitions.