The US House of Representatives will vote on cannabis legalization legislation this week

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, a sweeping federal law legalizing cannabis that will include strong social justice provisions with an emphasis on restorative justice for communities hardest hit by cannabis contains ban.

Toi Hutchinson, President and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project, welcomed the MORE Act’s approach to legalization as it “promises to address many of the harms caused by prohibition through an equity and justice framework.”

RELATED: Lawmakers release report on MORE measures ahead of house floor discussion

“Americans have been overwhelming in their support for cannabis legalization, and states across the country have taken the lead in legalizing cannabis. Now is the time for Congress to act and finally put an end to the failed prohibition policy. We urge members of Congress to re-enact this historic bill,” Hutchinson added.

What is The MORE Act

Under the auspices of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), the MORE Act would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act; require federal courts to set aside previous convictions related to cannabis and provide for a re-sentencing; providing grants and funding to communities most impacted by the war on cannabis; removing barriers to licensing and employment in the cannabis industry; protecting immigrants from being denied citizenship because of cannabis; and allow VA doctors to recommend medicinal cannabis to veterans. In 2020, the House of Representatives passed the MORE Act but made no progress in the Senate.

RELATED: The MORE Act Won’t Legalize Cannabis Nationwide — Not Like You Think

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

According to the latest Gallup poll, 68% of Americans support legalizing cannabis. To date, 18 states have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and older, and 37 states have legalized medicinal cannabis.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.