Forty House Democrats Introduce Bill to Federally Legalize Cannabis
In a move aimed at reversing decades of prohibition, a group of 40 House Democrats has introduced a bill to federally legalize cannabis. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, reintroduced by Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, decriminalize its use, and provide expungements for those with prior convictions.
The bill, which has been introduced four times since 2019, would also create a framework for reinvesting in communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. This includes the establishment of an “Opportunity Trust Fund” to provide grants for job training, re-entry services, and other programs aimed at supporting those impacted by prohibition.
The MORE Act has gained significant support in the House, with 95 co-sponsors in the previous Congress. However, its passage has been stalled by opposition from Republicans, including Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee.
Despite this, the bill remains a key piece of legislation for Democrats, who argue that federal laws must catch up with the growing number of states that have legalized cannabis. Twenty-four states and Washington, D.C. have legalized adult-use cannabis, while 40 states have legalized medical cannabis.
The MORE Act would also impose a progressive federal excise tax on cannabis sales, with revenue going towards the Opportunity Trust Fund. Additionally, it would provide non-discrimination protections for marijuana use or possession, and for prior convictions for a marijuana offense.
The bill has been endorsed by a broad coalition of civil rights, criminal justice, drug policy, and immigration groups, who argue that it is a critical step towards repairing the damage caused by decades of prohibition.
“As states continue to move away from their failed experiments with cannabis prohibition, it is incumbent on Congress to resolve the growing conflict between state and federal law and do everything it can to repair the damage caused by nearly a century of disastrous criminalization policies,” said Morgan Fox, political director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
The MORE Act is now awaiting consideration in the House Judiciary Committee, where it faces an uncertain future. However, its reintroduction marks a significant step forward in the push to federally legalize cannabis, and could potentially pave the way for broader reforms in the future.
