United States: House of Representatives approves federal decriminalization for the second time

Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the MORE Act, a bill to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, for the second time.

After an hour's debate on Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, the House voted 220-204, mostly on a partisan line, to end federal cannabis prohibition and promote social equity in the industry.

One version almost identical to the MORE Act was passed in 2020, but was blocked in the Senate.

Jerrold Nadler, Democratic Rep. which carries the text, opened Friday's debate by calling the MORE Act «long-awaited legislation that would reverse decades of failed federal policies based on the criminalization of cannabis.»

It also take steps to address the heavy toll these policies have taken across the country, particularly among communities of color. For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health.

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- Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) April 1, 2022

The MORE Act would remove cannabis from US law on controlled substances, which would allow states to legalize cannabis markets without fear of federal interference. It includes provisions for expungement or resentencing of individuals with non-violent cannabis-related federal convictions.

It would also promote diversity in the cannabis industry at state level, and help repair the disproportionate damage caused by the US war on drugs. According to a recent analysis from Congressional Budget Office, If passed, the legislation would increase tax revenues by more than $8 billion over 10 years, and drastically reduce federal prison costs.

Two relatively minor amendments to the MORE Act were adopted at the same time:

• Representative Josh Gottheimer proposed allocating $10 million to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) to research «technologies and methods law enforcement can use to determine if a driver is under the influence of marijuana.»
• Rep. Conor Lamb called on Congress to conduct a study on «the impact of state legalization of recreational cannabis on the workplace.»

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to advance, including 10 Republican votes. There is currently no similar bill in the Senate, but Majority Leader CHuck Schumer, along with Senators Booker and Wyden, are expected to introduce a comprehensive cannabis reform bill within the next month. Should the text pass the Senate, Joe Biden would then have to sign it into law.

The MORE Act is not the only federal legalization project underway. Senator Nancy Mace presented the State Reform Act (States Reform Act), who might stand a better chance in the Senate.