The Christmas Eve pardon, which has become an annual tradition for the California Governor Jerry Brown , was bestowed to 90 other people, reported Variety.
The pardons are given to citizens who have shown "exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction."
Downey was caught on a Los Angeles highway and convicted of drug possession after authorities found heroin, cocaine and a pistol in his vehicle.
The 50-year-old actor spent nearly a year in prison in 1999 after violating his probation.
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