Since Arizona county attorneys started accepting applications from those looking to dismiss prior marijuana possession charges, the Maricopa County Attorney’s office has been busy.

A spokeswoman said their attorneys have prepared 5,714 petitions to expunge marijuana charges from defendant records across Maricopa County within the last few months.

Officials say 614 of those petitions were done so on behalf of someone who asked for assistance via the county attorney’s website. The remaining 5,100 were proactively prepared by the county attorney’s office after a review of information in their case management system. Those were filed based on the attorney’s knowledge of the change in state law.

While this means a second chance at rebuilding their lives for so many Arizonans, some advocates feel this forgiveness should be extended to others who may not fit the criteria of the expungement process, which allows for small amounts of pot to be in possession at the time of the crime. There are many who were charged with possessing more than the amount listed in the expungement criteria. Many believe their cases too should be considered for expungement as well. [Read more at ABC 15 Arizona]