New Leaf Illinois, a five-year pilot program developed by the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) that offers free cannabis expungement legal services and consultation through a network of 20 legal aid and advocacy organizations throughout the state, is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Since launching in November 2020 with state funding, more than 1,300 people have registered for services, so Illinois residents with prior cannabis arrests or convictions can take the first step to clear their records. There are thousands more in Illinois who are eligible for cannabis expungement, but whose records won’t be cleared automatically. The Sentencing Policy Advisory Council estimated there are approximately 34,000 people in the state who must file an individual motion to vacate and expunge in the county where their record exists.  New Leaf Illinois legal staff help people determine their eligibility for relief through an easy-to-use online registration portal at www.newleafillinois.org or via phone at (855) 963-9532. Legal aid organizations within the New Leaf Illinois network provide free services in every region in Illinois when a person is eligible for relief.