MORE Act Reintroduced in Congress

Congressional Democrats last week reintroduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would decriminalize cannabis federally and implement criminal justice reforms. The measure would also impose a 5% federal cannabis tax on sales to fund three grant programs. 

The bill passed the House in 2020 and 2022 but was not taken up in the Senate. 

In a statement, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, described the measure as “the only comprehensive cannabis reform that has passed either chamber of Congress – twice.  

“It is the gold-standard, reflecting the concerns of businesses, researchers and impacted communities alike.” — Blumenauer in a press release 

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), chair of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, added the bill would “take meaningful steps to address the harmful impacts of the federal prohibition, particularly on communities of color, and align federal law with that of many states.”  

The measure would also open up Small Business Administration funding for legitimate cannabis-related businesses and service providers, provide non-discrimination protections for cannabis use or possession, including, prohibiting the denial of any federal public benefit (including housing) based on the use or possession of cannabis, or prior cannabis-related conviction and provides that the use or possession of cannabis, or prior cannabis-related conviction, will have no adverse impact under the immigration laws. 

The measure is backed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Drug Policy Alliance, NORML, Better Organizing to Win Legalization, and Minorities for Medical Marijuana, the Center for American Progress, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.