U.S. Congress: Legislation to End Cannabis Prohibition Nationwide and Allow Expungements Now Sponsored by Lawmakers From 28 States and D.C.

The proposal, which would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and establish a process for clearing past convictions, has attracted broad support nationwide, with 60 total sponsors (13% of the entire House of Representatives).

Sponsors of the bill include lawmakers representing Nevada, Minnesota, New York, California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Vermont, Maine, Washington, Texas, Missouri, Florida, Colorado, Georgia, New Jersey, Illinois, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, New Mexico, Virginia, and Arizona have signed on, along with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C. Altogether, the bill now includes backing from well over half of U.S. states, underscoring growing recognition of the failures of prohibition and the need for national reform. As of now, every sponsor is a Democrat, with no Republican lawmakers having endorsed the measure. A separate proposal to respect state cannabis laws, the STATES 2.0 Act, does have bipartisan support, but has considerably less sponsors (four).

The legislation—known as the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act—is positioned as both a criminal justice and public health effort. Beyond removing marijuana from federal drug schedules, it would expunge eligible convictions, offering relief to individuals who continue to face lasting consequences from outdated policies. Supporters say the reforms would bring federal law more closely in line with state-level legalization, where marijuana is already permitted in many jurisdictions.

Several states stand out for having multiple lawmakers sponsoring the legislation, underscoring especially strong regional support for ending federal marijuana prohibition. California leads by a wide margin, with more than half a dozen representatives signed on. Texas and Washington also show notable engagement, each contributing several sponsors despite their sharply different political landscapes. Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, and New York follow closely behind, each with multiple members backing the proposal.

The expanding roster of congressional supporters reflects a political landscape increasingly ready to move past prohibition and adopt a modernized approach to marijuana policy.