US House of Representatives Approves Bill Ending Federal Cannabis Ban: What Does It Mean?

Through Javier Hasse

The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, HR 3617.

The MORE Act repeals cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act and allows states to legalize cannabis, its production and sale free from federal interference.

Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images

RELATED: Why Does Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chair Vote Against MORE Bill?

It also provides for the deletion or retrial of those with nonviolent federal marijuana convictions, encourages diverse participation in the state-regulated cannabis industry, and helps repair the racially and economically disparate harms caused by America’s past prohibition policies.

According to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, passage of the law would increase revenue by over $8 billion over 10 years while significantly reducing federal prison costs.

This bill had previously been approved in the House of Representatives in December 2020 but failed to find a Senate hearing. This is the second time in more than 50 years that a chamber of Congress has reviewed cannabis’s designation as a federally prohibited substance.

Reactions to the passage of MORE Act

NORMAL

“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 using 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 has inflicted on almost a century.

“It is 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. 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.”

Drug Policy Alliance

Maritza Perez, director of the Office of National Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement:

“Today, thanks to the leadership of the House of Representatives, we are one step closer to seeking justice for the countless communities devastated by cruel and racist marijuana prohibition. And while it won’t erase the pain that millions of people have experienced; restore the economic, educational and career opportunities that have been stolen from them; or give them back the time they’ve lost with their families, passage of the MORE Act offers hope for a brighter future — one in which arrest records will be erased, new opportunities to participate in the legal marijuana industry will exist, and desperately needed resources will emerge are diverted back to the communities that were most harmed. Now it’s up to the Senate to finish the job – to begin delivering long-overdue justice to end the status quo of racist and counterproductive enforcement. With more than two-thirds of Americans in favor of reform, this should be a quick and easy election.”

RELATED: The downside to declassifying cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug

“We would like to thank House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler and Representatives Barbara Lee, Earl Blumenauer and Nydia Velazquez for their exceptional work in shaping and advancing this bill. We also want to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn for ensuring the success of this bill.”

Legalization of marijuanaPhoto by Bet_Noire/Getty Images

CPEAR

The Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education, and Regulation (CPEAR) released the following statement in response to the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act passed in the US House of Representatives:

“This legislation adds significantly to the federal cannabis reform debate at the national level. Additionally, it would restore communities negatively impacted by disproportionate drug law enforcement, from criminal justice to social justice reforms. As Congress works to address the need for a comprehensive federal regulatory system, we look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure this framework is grounded in robust data and research.”

BOWL PAC

“For the first time in U.S. history, voters can go to the ballot box with the answer to one simple question: Did my representative vote for marijuana law reform or perpetuate the racist and cruel policy of marijuana criminalization,” BOWL Justin said Strekal from PAC. “With an overwhelming majority of voters supporting legalization, the growing segment of the population that prioritizes this issue will be better equipped to defeat prohibitionists at the ballot box.”

Strekal added, “This positive vote on the MORE Act must be seen as a mandate by the Senate to consider legislation to end the ban with haste.”

NCIA

“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.”

legal marijuanaPhoto by MasterKeySystem/Getty Images

SSDP

“The passing of the MORE Act in the House of Representatives is a historic moment for the movement fighting to end the war on drugs. A simple marijuana arrest has an amazing impact on a young person’s life, reducing the lifetime wage growth rate by almost 30%. Now the Senate must act by passing the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act to end marijuana prohibition while providing compensation to those directly affected by marijuana arrests.” Rob Hofmann, Policy and Advocacy Director, Students for Sensitive drug policy.

GACP

Randal John Meyer, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce, released the following statement following the passage: “GACC thanks Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Chairman Nadler, Rep. Blumenauer, Rep. Lee and our allied organizations for their efforts in getting the MORE Act passed to facilitate. By voting to suspend cannabis and correct the injustices of Prohibition under the Blumenauer Blueprint, the House has laid the groundwork for ending this disastrous policy.”

USCC

Following the House passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act), US Cannabis Council CEO Steven Hawkins issued the following statement:

“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. 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.

“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. 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 will mount on Congress to 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.”

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

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