Rise Dispensaries Hosting Free Marijuana Expungement Clinic in Patterson, New Jersey on August 8
- Rise Dispensaries will host a free expungement clinic on August 8 in Paterson, New Jersey, offering legal help to adults with nonviolent marijuana-related convictions.
- The event, held at Christ Temple Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is in partnership with Blaze Responsibly and includes attorneys from the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender to assist eligible adults in clearing their records.
- Several state agencies and community organizations will participate, providing information on ID renewal, employment in the marijuana industry, state support programs, free meal programs, and job opportunities.
- This Paterson clinic is the 10th event from the Rise and Blaze Responsibly partnership, which has previously helped hundreds obtain expungement assistance and access community resources.
Rise Dispensaries will host a free expungement clinic in Paterson, New Jersey, on August 8, offering legal assistance to adults with nonviolent marijuana-related convictions.
The clinic will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Christ Temple Baptist Church, located at 38 Hopper Street. The event is being presented in partnership with Blaze Responsibly, a New Jersey-based public resource center.
Attorneys from the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender will be on-site to help eligible adults age 21 and older pursue free expungements. Expungement can remove qualifying convictions from a person’s public criminal record, potentially reducing barriers to employment, housing and other opportunities.
“Expungement is about more than clearing a record; it’s about removing barriers that can prevent people from accessing employment, housing, and other opportunities,” said Blaze Responsibly founder Chirali Patel.
“Our partnership with Rise Dispensaries allows us to connect individuals with trusted legal support while also bringing together organizations that can provide resources beyond the clinic itself,” Patel said.
Several state agencies, labor organizations and community groups will also participate.
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will provide information about renewing lost or expired identification cards, while United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360 will discuss employment opportunities in the legal marijuana industry.
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission will provide information about state programs intended to support a diverse marijuana market. The Coalition for Food and Health Equity will help eligible attendees enroll in free meal delivery programs and will provide free meals at the event.
Green Thumb Industries, the parent company of Rise, will also distribute information about available jobs. Rise operates recreational marijuana dispensaries in Bloomfield, Paramus and Paterson.
The Paterson clinic will mark the 10th event held through the partnership between Rise and Blaze Responsibly.
Rise estimates that its previous New Jersey clinics have helped hundreds of people obtain expungement assistance and criminal history reports. More than 30 people received on-site legal services during its most recent clinic in Newark, while more than 75 connected with community resources.
“Together, we’re working to make these services more accessible and create meaningful opportunities for the communities we serve,” Patel said.