Federal Legislation to End Federal Marijuana Prohibition Gains 73rd Sponsor in U.S. Congress
- Representative Val Hoyle (D-OR) has joined as a sponsor of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, increasing the total House supporters to 73, all Democrats.
- The MORE Act aims to end federal marijuana prohibition by removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to set their own marijuana policies without federal interference.
- The bill includes criminal justice reforms such as expunging certain federal marijuana convictions and allowing resentencing for some incarcerated individuals, along with prohibiting marijuana-related conduct from affecting federal benefits, immigration, or security clearances.
- The legislation proposes a federal excise tax on marijuana sales, funding programs for communities harmed by the war on drugs, and would make marijuana businesses eligible for Small Business Administration support, but faces uncertain prospects in the currently divided Senate.
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act has gained another backer in the U.S. House, with Representative Val Hoyle (D-OR) signing on as a sponsor this week.
Hoyle’s support brings the federal marijuana legalization bill to 73 total sponsors in the current Congress, continuing a recent string of new Democratic support for the proposal. The measure remains without Republican backing.
The MORE Act would end federal marijuana prohibition by removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. Rather than forcing states to legalize marijuana, the bill would allow each state to maintain its own policies while eliminating the federal ban.
The legislation also includes several criminal justice provisions, including a pathway for expunging certain federal marijuana convictions and allowing resentencing for some people still serving time for marijuana-related offenses.
Beyond descheduling, the bill would prohibit marijuana-related conduct from being used as the sole reason to deny federal benefits, immigration protections or security clearances. It would also make marijuana businesses eligible for Small Business Administration programs and financing.
The proposal would create a federal excise tax on marijuana sales, with revenue directed toward programs designed to assist communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
The MORE Act has previously passed the House twice, both times when Democrats controlled the chamber. However, it has never advanced through the Senate, and its prospects remain uncertain under the current divided Congress.