MORE Make the decision to legalize cannabis in every US state

This week, the US House of Representatives will vote on legalizing cannabis. In particular, whether cannabis should be removed from the federal list of controlled substances. They also discuss reparations for communities affected by the war on cannabis. The bill, titled the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, has the support of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler.

Why so long?

There is widespread anger and confusion as to why it has taken the US federal government so long to act. And even then, they’re just voting on that this week. There are no guarantees. An earlier version of the MORE Act failed in the Senate last year.

“Despite overwhelming public support for cannabis legalization and campaign promises by the Biden administration to pass cannabis reform, progress towards federal legalization has stalled,” said Jason Wilson, cannabis ETFs expert.

“While a House vote on federal legalization is just the first of many steps toward cannabis reform, it is encouraging that lawmakers are responding to their constituents and working toward a solution that would end cannabis prohibition.”

Voting on the MORE Act is critical as all US states will legalize cannabis if the MORE Act is passed.

The MORE act

Unlike legalization in Canada, the MORE Act provides for those with criminal records to be erased. A reassessment of all prison sentences related to cannabis is in the works. In an earlier version of the bill, there was even talk of restricting the federal authorities’ options for action. From being denied security checks because of cannabis use to drug testing in the workplace.

Even if the MORE Act fails, there is still hope for federal cannabis legalization. The Republican-controlled Senate also has plans to introduce a motion in April. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has a bill entitled the Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act. This bill will be legalized at the federal level, but leaves the decision up to the individual states.

Biden says one thing, does the other

In 2018, The Farm Bill legalized all types of cannabis (CBD, hemp, Delta-8) except for high-THC plants. However, states such as Oregon have banned Delta-8s. Others like Texas are currently deliberating on the issue.

When he was running for president, Biden said, “We should decriminalize marijuana.” But in the Oval Office, the 79-year-old fired some of his staff because of their past cannabis use. Like his predecessor Donald Trump, Biden talked a big game on the campaign trail, but he’s made very little progress now that he’s in power. He has remained silent on the MORE Act, although an earlier version of the bill was sponsored by his Vice President, Kamala Harris.

If anything, Biden is moving in the opposite direction. He signed a government spending bill recommending restrictions on CBD and new regulations on hemp. Fortunately, the Biden administration has not interfered with the rule of law.

The Rules Committee will hold a meeting to prepare the MORE bill for a House vote. Expect a vote sometime this week.

In the meantime, you can read the following article to know more about MORE Act: