U.S. Congress: Legislation to End Cannabis Prohibition Nationwide Gains 72nd Sponsor
- Representative Grace Meng (D-NY) became the 72nd sponsor of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, adding to recent support from other lawmakers.
- The MORE Act aims to remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act, ending federal prohibition while allowing states to maintain their own marijuana policies.
- The bill includes provisions for expunging federal marijuana convictions, resenting certain sentences, preventing marijuana conduct from denying federal benefits or immigration protections, and supporting marijuana businesses through SBA programs.
- The legislation would impose a federal excise tax on marijuana sales, funding programs to assist communities harmed by prohibition; it has passed the House twice but lacks Republican support and has not passed the Senate.
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act has gained another sponsor in the U.S. House, with Representative Grace Meng (D-NY) signing on yesterday.
Meng’s support brings the bill to 72 total sponsors. It comes less than two weeks after Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) joined the measure on April 29, which came one day after five other lawmakers signed on as sponsors.
The MORE Act would remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act, ending federal prohibition while allowing states to continue setting their own marijuana policies. The proposal would also create a process for expunging certain federal marijuana convictions and allow resentencing for some individuals still serving time for marijuana-related offenses.
The legislation would also prevent marijuana-related conduct from being used as the sole basis for denying federal benefits, immigration protections or security clearances. In addition, it would make marijuana businesses eligible for Small Business Administration programs and financing opportunities.
The bill would establish a federal excise tax on marijuana sales, with revenue directed toward programs meant to support communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition.
The MORE Act has twice passed the House when Democrats controlled the chamber, but it has never cleared the Senate. Despite the recent gain in sponsors, the proposal remains without Republican support in the current Congress.