Is there a way to clean my record from the other state?

I have a record of 1 marijuana possession misdemeanor and 3 separate marijuana paraphernalia misdemeanors. All the cases have been finished, fees and bills paid, probation completed and dealt with. The last charge was 2013. I now live in another state attending college for Mechanical Engineering and have an internship relating to my curriculum. I do not have any convictions where I live now. I once, a couple years ago, contacted the courts of the other state to see about having my record wiped. I was told that there is no expungement system in the courts and that misdemeanors will stay on my record for life. Is this true? Was I lied to?