CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Linn County Attorney's Office is launching a new program Friday to lessen penalties for low-level marijuana users.
The change is designed to help first-time offenders avoid a criminal record.
Those who complete the county's diversion program will have their cases dismissed, and a recommendation for their arrest and charges to be removed.
There are several requirements for offenders to qualify for the program.
They cannot have a previous deferred judgment or conviction of possession of a controlled substance. The offenders also can't have a felony conviction or be currently charged with either another offense or any crime of violence.
Neighboring Johnson County implemented a similar program about 10 years ago.
The program is partially an effort to relieve racial disparities with drug convictions.
An ACLU study this year found that Iowa has the fifth worst racial disparity involving marijuana arrests of any state, with black Iowans more than seven times as likely to be arrested on marijuana charges, and 11 times more likely to be incarcerated than white Iowans.
The Linn County Attorney’s office says it'll conduct a complete review of the effectiveness of its diversion program at the end of 2021.