U.S. House of Representatives Passes Cannabis Legalization Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor (220-204) of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act.

MORE Act Details

This comprehensive federal cannabis legalization bill contains strong social equity provisions emphasizing restorative justice for communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition. This marks the second time the chamber has passed the MORE Act.

Sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the MORE Act would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act; require federal courts to expunge prior cannabis-related convictions and provide for resentencing; provide grants and funding to communities most harmed by the war on cannabis; lift barriers to licensing and employment in the cannabis industry; protect immigrants from being denied citizenship over cannabis; and allow VA physicians to recommend medical cannabis to veterans. In 2020, the House passed the MORE Act, but it did not advance in the Senate.

On the Senate side, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a draft version of an alternative cannabis legalization bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity (CAO) Act.

Officials Reactions

According to the latest Gallup poll, 68% of Americans support cannabis legalization. Eighteen states have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over, and 37 states have legalized medical cannabis.

“The fact that the House has repeatedly passed the MORE Act is indicative of the cannabis policy movement’s evolution and the growing momentum toward comprehensive reform at the federal level,” sad Toi Hutchinson, President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project. “While this is historical in nature and warrants praise, it is necessary to also recognize that the fight is still far from over. To this day, people across the country are still experiencing the damaging effects of the war on cannabis, while others are profiting in the industry. Following today’s action in the House, it is now time for the U.S. Senate to follow suit and take up the MORE Act. We at the Marijuana Policy Project remain committed to ending cannabis prohibition for all and will continue to fight until that becomes our reality.”