United States: Congress could vote on cannabis legalization in September

The US House of Representatives is set to vote on a federal cannabis legalization bill in September, according to information from Marijuana Moment.

The MORE Act, for Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement was introduced by Judicial Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) last year and passed several committees in the months that followed.

«Looking at the legislative calendar, we realistically have little time to get this to the House floor for a vote before time runs out, and Congress is otherwise very busy,» a explained Queen Adesuyi,from Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), to Marijuana Moment.

«This Congress made history by passing a bill for the cannabis industry,» said Adesuyi, referring to the adoption of legislation on banking services for cannabis businesses. «It would be a shame for them, as one of the most progressive groups of elected officials in a long time, to end the year without addressing the victims of the war on drugs or considering the victims of the criminalization of cannabis. We need the MORE Act now.»

The MORE Act would remove federal prohibition of cannabis, expunge the criminal records of those previously convicted of cannabis, and impose a 5% federal tax on sales, the proceeds of which would be reinvested in communities most affected by the war on drugs.

It would also create a reconsideration pathway for people incarcerated for cannabis-related offenses, protect immigrants from being denied citizenship for cannabis, and prevent federal agencies from denying public benefits or security clearances on the pretext of cannabis use.

If members of Congress approve the MORE Act, the Republican-controlled Senate will also have to take up the bill. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is an ardent supporter of hemp, but has so far maintained unwavering opposition to broader cannabis reforms. It would also be a risk for Senate Democrats to vote for cannabis legalization so close to the November presidential elections, when Joe Biden has not included the proposal in his platform.