Does the new MORE law have a better chance of survival?

By Janve Sobers

Second verse, just like the first, much louder and much MORE woke up.

The House of Representatives passed the first version of the MORE Act in late 2020, which would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. The bill promptly died in the Republican-controlled Senate. This blog followed the development of the original version of the bill:

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The House reintroducedthe second version of the bill on May 28, 2021. This version is the same as the first with some progressive upgrades. Especially the drafters of the bill Language removed that banned applicants with cannabis crime convictions from federal licensing. These languageproved controversial at the time the MORE Act 2020 was passed. Those directly affected by the ban on refusing federal approval appeared to contradict the stated intent of the bill “to reinvest in certain individuals adversely affected by the war on drugs. ”The removal of that language shows that Congress is seeking an even more progressive vision of legalization this time around.

RELATED: The MORE Act won’t legalize cannabis nationwide – not like you think

In particular, the MORE Act 2021 has received resounding support from Amazon. The Company offered his formal assistance not just for the new MORE law, but for the legalization of cannabis in general. The Amazon representative even promised to change its drug testing guidelines for some employees to allow cannabis use. Amazon’s support for the MORE Act speaks volumes, suggesting that the company sees profit potential in state legalization. Additionally, the size and ubiquity of the company could force other companies, Congress, and the president to expand support for state legalization.

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You may be wondering if there is hope for this new law. UnfThankfully, even with a Democratic majority in both houses, a Democratic President, and the support of Amazon, the short answer is still no, not really.

RELATED: MORE Laws Reinstated in House of Representatives As Senate Prepares Its Own Cannabis Reform Legislation

The bill takes 60 votes to pass the Senate. That’s one vote from every Democrat plus ten Republicans. The progressive language of the new bill is an important step in addressing the harms of the drug war. But progressivism is unlikely to appeal to the reluctant Center Democrats and the 10 Republicans who will have to pass the bill in the Senate. As it stands, conservative legalization laws have a better chance of passing laws like the Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Business, and Medical Professionals Act (an unfortunate name with far less contentious than MORE).

Aside from a few political miracles (such as end thatfilibuster), the MORE Act will most likely not make it onto President Biden’s desk. We will keep you updated.

This article originally appeared on the Canna Law Blog and was republished with permission.