Democratic U.S. Reps. have reintroduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would legalize cannabis federally. The proposal – the fourth version introduced in Congress, would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level by removing the substance from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), and would require federal courts to expunge prior cannabis convictions and to conduct re-sentencing hearings for those still under supervision.
The legislation would authorize the assessment of a 5% sales tax on cannabis and cannabis products to create an Opportunity Trust Fund, which includes three grant programs, and would open up Small Business Administration funding for legitimate cannabis-related businesses and service providers.
The measure would also provide non-discrimination protections for cannabis use or possession, and for prior convictions for a cannabis offense.
In a statement, Rep. Dina Titus, Co-Chair of the Cannabis Caucus (D-NV) said “It’s time to modernize our laws to reflect the reality of cannabis use in the United States, recognize the legitimate industry that has emerged, and fully embrace the medical benefits of the plant.”
“The federal government must catch up to the states, and this bill provides a framework to end the failed War on Drugs while supporting communities and businesses nationwide.” — Titus in a press release
In all, 40 Democratic lawmakers are sponsoring the bill.
The first version of the legislation was introduced in 2019 and was approved by the House in 2020 but was never considered by the Senate. A second version passed the House the following year but was, again, never considered by the Senate. A third version was introduced in 2023 but was referred to the House Committees of Jurisdiction where it died.
The current version has support from a broad coalition of civil rights, criminal justice, drug policy, and immigration groups, including: All People’s Health Collective, American Civil Liberties Union, Bucks County NORML, Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition, Center for American Progress, Cruel, Consequences Portraits, Delaware NORML INC, Doctors for Drug Policy Reform, Drug Policy Alliance, Grassroots Ohioans, JustLeadershipUSA, JustUS Coordinating Council, Last Prisoner Project, Lit by the Sea LLC, Los Angeles Community Action Network, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, Minority Cannabis Business Association, Montco NORML, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Social Workers, National Employment Law Project, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NORML KC., NORML Tallahassee North Florida, Ohio NORML, People’s Action Institute, Reframe Health and Justice, Service Employees International Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Suncoast NORML, Supernova Women, The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, The Porchlight Collective SAP, The Weldon Project/Mission Green, and Virginia NORML.
