US House of Representatives passes MORE federal cannabis decriminalization bill

Cannabis advocates have reason to celebrate this Friday as federal legislation moves ahead to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, which would change everything. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, or HR 3617, in a plenary vote on Friday. It is the second time the House of Representatives has passed the bill as the historic bill makes its way to the Senate.

The MORE law was approved on April 1st by a majority of 220 to 204 votes. An earlier version of the bill was passed in December 2020, also by a mostly party vote, which was the first comprehensive cannabis policy reform bill to receive a vote in plenary or be approved by either chamber of Congress.

The MORE Act would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and allow states to legalize cannabis markets without fear of government interference. It would include provisions for the deletion or retrial of individuals with nonviolent federal cannabis convictions.

It would also promote diversity in the state-level cannabis industry and help repair the disproportionate damage caused by America’s War on Drugs. According to a recent analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, if passed, the law would increase tax revenues by over $8 billion over 10 years and also drastically reduce federal prison costs.

High Times received several statements from the leadership of national cannabis organizations.

“At a time when a majority of states regulate marijuana use and a majority of voters of all political ideologies support legalization, it makes no political, fiscal, or cultural sense for federal lawmakers to continue supporting ‘flat earth.’ . failed federal prohibition policies of the past,” Paul Armentano, associate director of NORML, told High Times. “It is time for members of the Senate to follow the example of the House of Representatives and take appropriate action to bring federal law into line with majority public opinion and the facility’s rapidly changing legal and cultural status.”

“It’s time for the Senate to have the courage to do what the House of Representatives has now done twice, vote to end our failed and racist war on marijuana users,” said NORML Executive Director Erik Altieri to High Times. “The American public, regardless of political affiliation, is overwhelmingly in support of legalization, and the federal government should recognize the will of the people and send the MORE Act to the President’s desk without delay.”

“This vote is a clear indicator that Congress is finally listening to the vast majority of voters who are fed up with our failed marijuana criminalization policies and the damage they continue to wreak every day in communities across the country,” said Morgan, who political director of NORML Fuchs. “It is long overdue that we stop punishing adults for consuming a substance that is objectively safer than alcohol and that we work to address the diverse negative impacts that prohibition has had on our most vulnerable individuals and marginalized communities almost a century.”

Fox replaced outgoing NORML staffer Justin Strekal when he took on the role of political director last January, and federal legislation is already moving fast.

“It’s time for federal lawmakers to put aside partisan differences and recognize that state-level legalization policies are publicly popular, successful, and in the best interest of our country,” Fox added. “Now that the House of Representatives has once again endorsed sensible and comprehensive cannabis policy reform, we urge the Senate to move forward on this matter without delay.”

JUST IN: The US House of Representatives passed the #MOREAAct, legislation that would take cannabis off the schedule and address the disastrous consequences of prohibition! Today’s vote marks the second time the Chamber has passed the MORE Act.

— US Cannabis Council (@USCannabisCncl) April 1, 2022

Other organizations agreed on the urgency of the legislation. The US Cannabis Council (USCC) is a leading force for ending federal prohibition – specifically for creating an equitable and values-based cannabis industry, which is one of the defining factors between the MORE Act and similar legislation.

“Cannabis rescheduling is on the rise in the United States, and the House of Representatives has now passed the MORE Act in two consecutive sessions of Congress,” USCC CEO Steven Hawkins said in a statement sent to the High Times. “Today’s historic vote comes as the Senate prepares to formally introduce the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. Taken together, Congress is sending a strong signal that the end of federal cannabis prohibition is near.”

Hawkins also acknowledges the uphill battle the bill will face.

“There is still a long way to go before a bill reaches the President’s desk, but we are nearing the end of the cannabis prohibition era,” Hawkins said. “As more states implement medical and adult cannabis programs, as the majority of Americans who support reform continues to grow, and as more Americans find jobs in an industry that already employs over 400,000 people, the pressure on Congress will mount , to act.

“Despite the timing of April 1st, cannabis reform is serious business. USCC broadly supports the postponement alongside specific reforms such as bank reform, cancellation and tax breaks.”

The bill now goes to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to move forward. There is currently no accompanying legislation in the Senate, but Majority Leader Schumer, along with Senators Booker and Wyden, are expected to introduce sweeping cannabis reform legislation next month.

“With voter support for legal cannabis at an all-time high and more states moving away from Prohibition, we commend the House for taking this step again to modernize our federal marijuana policy,” said NCIA Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Aaron Smith. “Now is the time for the Senate to enact some sensible reform legislation so we can finally end the failure of prohibition and promote a well-regulated market for cannabis.”

The MORE Act is certainly not the only federal bill moving forward. Meanwhile, on March 24, 2022, the Senate unanimously passed the Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion (CMRE) Act. The current version of the CMRE law would streamline the application process for researchers, allow them to study cannabis, and urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promote and develop cannabis-based drugs.

In addition, Senator Nancy Mace introduced the States Reform Act, which some proponents believe will stand a better chance in the Senate, while others disagree.

With 10 Republican senators needed to pass the MORE bill in the Senate, some are concerned about its chances of crossing the finish line. George Macheril, CEO of cannabis industry lender Bespoke Financial, is one of those people. “While the House vote on the MORE bill is expected to pass again, we see this more as a token gesture that will have very little chance of surviving the Senate,” Macheril told High on March 25 Times.