A key House committee on Thursday approved a bill to federally legalize marijuana and promote social equity.<\/p>\n
The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act cleared the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by the legislation\u2019s sponsor, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), on a 26-15 vote. The tally fell largely along party lines, with all Democrats supporting the measure and all but two Republicans voting against it.<\/p>\n
The development comes one week after the full House voted in favor of a defense spending bill that includes an amendment that would protect banks that service state-legal cannabis businesses<\/a>\u00a0from being penalized by federal regulators.<\/p>\n \u201cThis long overdue and historic legislation would reverse failed federal policies criminalizing marijuana. It would also take steps to address the heavy toll this policy has taken across the country, particularly among communities of color,\u201d Nadler said in opening remarks. \u201cI have long believed that the criminalization of marijuana has been a mistake. The racially disparate enforcement of marijuana laws has only made it worse, with serious consequences, particularly for communities of color.\u201d<\/p>\n Read Chairman @RepJerryNadler<\/a>‘s opening statement for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act here: https:\/\/t.co\/G8xEXdKk63<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) said that \u201cthis is an important criminal justice reform bill, and I commend the chairman for once again introducing this bill and bringing it before the committee. In fact, it consolidates the discussions that we\u2019ve had about the overincarceration of individuals who were addicted or caught up in the cycle of drugs, many of them people of color in inner city neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n Ranking Member Jim Jordan (D-NY) voiced opposition to the proposal, calling it a \u201cradical, out-of-touch Democrat priority\u201d and a \u201cmarijuana stimulus bill.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch lawmakers debate and vote on the legalization proposal in the video below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) discussed how cannabis criminalization has been historically used to target communities of color. He said the time for legalization \u201chas come, and time came a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n My Republican colleagues should come into 21st century on something and join us in passing the #MOREAct<\/a>. It’s an important step forward to deschedule marijuana, expunge offenses and reinvest the revenue in communities disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Nadler also emphasized the racial disparities in marijuana enforcement by pointing out that his own son was caught selling cannabis in high school but was brought back to his home rather than incarcerated. The chairman said if his son was black, police \u201cwould have arrested him.\u201d<\/p>\n Although most Republicans who spoke argued against the bill, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who is a cosponsor of it, made the case for reform.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a proud co-sponsor of the MORE Act because the federal government has screwed up marijuana policy in this country for a generation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe lied to people about the effects of marijuana. And then we used marijuana as a cudgel to incarcerate just wide swaths of communities, and particularly in African-American communities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe cannot honestly say that the war on drugs impacted suburban white communities in the same way it affected urban black communities. We can\u2019t say that marijuana enforcement was happening the same way on the corner than it was happening in the fraternity house,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have an opportunity to fix that problem. The war on drugs, much like many of our forever wars, has been a failure. If there\u2019s been a war on drugs, drugs have won that war.\u201d<\/p>\n Though not perfect (bad tax and spending provisions) the MORE Act is a step in the right direction as science has already proven the substance has healing properties in many chronic ailments. (2\/2)<\/p>\n \u2014 Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n However, he expressed certain concerns about provisions of the legislation such as the proposed federal excise tax on cannabis sales. While Gaetz also said that while he supports the MORE Act, he doesn\u2019t feel it stands a chance in the Senate and recommended advancing more modest reform.<\/p>\n While the legislation has largely stayed intact compared to the prior version that passed the chamber last year in a historic vote, there were some modest revisions that were incorporated upon its reintroduction in May.<\/p>\n The panel on Thursday considered additional changes<\/a> before moving the measure forward, although much of the time was spent debating unrelated issues such as COVID-19 vaccines, abortion policy and protests against police violence.<\/p>\n Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) sought to remove the bill\u2019s tax provisions as well as grant funds it would create to help repair the harms of the war on drugs.<\/p>\n The MORE Act would:<\/p>\n 1. Remove the federal prohibition on marijuana Tomorrow in judiciary committee, I\u2019ll be offering an amendment to remove the tax and spend provisions<\/p>\n \u2014 Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) September 28, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n A libertarian-leaning lawmaker, Massie backs the general idea of ending cannabis prohibition but is not in favor of creating new government programs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you want a bill that is not politically paralyzed, if you want a bill that can reach across the aisle, if you want a bill that can pass the Senate\u2014that they\u2019ll be motivated to bring up in the Senate\u2014then please vote for my amendment, which leaves most of the bill intact.\u201d Massie said. \u201cLet\u2019s work across the aisle and let\u2019s get a serious bill to the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n The amendment was ruled out of order by the chairman, however, because it proposed changes to sections of the bill that are under the jurisdiction of other committees.<\/p>\n A proposed amendment from Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) would have prohibited people with convictions for rioting, looting or destruction of property from benefiting from justice-related grants established under the bill. It was defeated in a 19-15 vote.<\/p>\n Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) filed an amendment that would have similarly restricted grant funds from going to people who have been convicted of trafficking drugs while possessing firearms. It failed by a vote of 20-15. Fitzgerald also put forth a proposal aimed at blocking people who have cheated on their taxes from benefitting from the grant programs. That too was rejected, by a 20-16 tally.<\/p>\n An amendment from Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) would have made it so the awarding of marijuana revenue-funded grants could not \u201cdiscriminate against or otherwise disfavor an individual or entity on the basis of the COVID-19 vaccination status of an individual or the advocacy by an individual or entity with respect to any COVID-19 vaccination mandate.\u201d It was defeated in a 21-18 vote.<\/p>\n Bishop also filed an amendment to require the Department of Transportation to develop best practices for detecting marijuana-impaired driving, but it was deemed to be not in order because it falls under the jurisdiction of another committee.<\/p>\n BREAKING: @HouseJudiciary<\/a> has PASSED H.R. 3617, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. pic.twitter.com\/kQkk1B93vf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Nadler\u2019s\u00a0cannabis legislation passed the House last year<\/a>\u00a0but did not advance in the Senate under GOP control. This time around, advocates are optimistic that something like the chairman\u2019s bill could be enacted now that Democrats run both chambers and the White House, and as more states are moving to enact legalization.<\/p>\n The legislation would\u00a0remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)<\/a>, allow people with cannabis convictions to have their records expunged and create a federal tax on marijuana with the revenue going to support community reinvestment and other programs.<\/p>\n FACT: Our marijuana laws disproportionately harm individuals and communities of color, leading to convictions that damage job prospects, access to housing, and the ability to vote. #WeWantMORE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n It also contains language to create a pathway for resentencing for those incarcerated for cannabis offenses, protect immigrants from being denied citizenship over marijuana and prevent federal agencies from denying public benefits or security clearance due to its use.<\/p>\n Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), who cochair the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, released a joint statement calling the Judiciary Committee vote part of a \u201cmonumental effort to get the federal government in step with the rest of America, and [a] move toward modernizing our federal cannabis policies and realizing restorative justice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the most comprehensive piece of cannabis legislation Congress has ever seen, and continuing its momentum couldn\u2019t be more important to our fight to address the fact that Congress continues to lag behind 37 states that have legalized either adult-use or medical cannabis,\u201d they said. \u201cWe will continue to build a broad coalition of support in Congress and work closely with our allies in the Senate to put forth a successful framework to finally reform our outdated, out-of-touch cannabis laws, because it\u2019s time for Congress to catch up with the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n The ACLU and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights\u2014which includes NAACP, Human Rights Campaign, Anti-Defamation League, National Organization for Women and People for the American Way, National Urban League, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers and the AFSCME and AFL-CIO labor unions\u2014wrote a letter of support for the legislation ahead of the markup.<\/p>\n Along with @ACLU<\/a>, we urge @HouseJudiciary<\/a> members to advance the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act today.<\/p>\n Our nation needs this comprehensive marijuana justice bill, which addresses justice reform, racial justice, and equity: https:\/\/t.co\/i9FPLkMe8A<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IIvYKCrudi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Leadership Conference (@civilrightsorg) September 29, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n The groups said the MORE Act \u201caddresses the collateral consequences of federal marijuana criminalization and takes steps to ensure the legal marketplace is diverse and inclusive of individuals adversely affected by prohibition.\u201d It also \u201ctakes significant steps to right the wrongs of decades of federal marijuana criminalization by providing for the expungement and resentencing of marijuana offenses.\u201d<\/p>\n But while advocates have broadly embraced the legislation and urged its passage, some have raised concerns about certain provisions and hope the bill can be revised as it moves through the process.<\/p>\n ACLU and the Leadership Conference, for example, expressed concerns about a component that was added to render so-called drug \u201ckingpins\u201d ineligible for expungements, pointing out that such language \u201chas been interpreted broadly by courts and would prevent individuals who are not high-level participants from seeking relief under the bill\u2019s expungement and resentencing provisions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf the exclusion remains, individuals excluded from the expungement process will continue to be blocked from accessing employment, housing, and an education based on their prior convictions,\u201d it said. \u201cWe believe the bill should be amended to ensure that those with excluded convictions are eligible for expungement within five years, assuming there have been no new convictions in the intervening time. Such a change will stay true to the intent of the bill and provide relief to those caught up in outdated enforcement efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of a matter of personal choice and public health. It is now time for us to remove the criminal prohibitions against marijuana at the federal level. #WeWantMORE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Meanwhile, there\u2019s been some contention between advocates and stakeholders on which reform should come first: the bipartisan banking legislation that\u2019s cleared the House in some form five times now or the comprehensive legalization bill that passed the chamber for the first time late last year.<\/p>\n Legalization advocates do want to see legislation from Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) become enacted, as there are public safety problems caused by all-cash businesses and it would take an important step toward normalizing the growing industry. But social equity-minded activists argue that advancing the incremental reform first would mainly benefit large marijuana businesses without addressing the harms of cannabis criminalization.<\/p>\n The fate of the banking proposal will likely be decided in conference with the Senate, which has not included the policy change in its National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and where key lawmakers have insisted that they will push for broader reform before allowing the incremental change to be enacted.<\/p>\n Separately, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (R-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) are also\u00a0leading the charge on a legalization bill in their chamber<\/a>. But weeks after a\u00a0public comment period on a draft version<\/a>\u00a0of the proposal closed, finalized text has yet to be formally filed\u2014and it\u2019s far from certain that Schumer will be able to find enough votes to advance the comprehensive reform through his chamber.<\/p>\n It should be noted that President Joe Biden\u00a0remains firmly opposed to adult-use marijuana legalization<\/a>. While he supports more modest reforms such as decriminalizing cannabis, expunging prior records and letting states set their own marijuana policies, there\u2019s an open question about whether he would be moved to sign a broad bill like the MORE Act or the Senate legalization legislation should such a proposal reach his desk.<\/p>\n With respect to the\u00a0MORE Act<\/a>, the latest version does not include language that was added just before last year\u2019s House floor vote that would have prevented people with previous cannabis convictions from obtaining federal permits to operate marijuana businesses. That was a contentious provision that appeared at the last minute and which advocates strongly opposed.<\/p>\n WATCH LIVE: @HouseJudiciary<\/a> continues marking up a bipartisan package of bills that will decriminalize marijuana federally and invest in communities that have been harmed by the War on Drugs, limit race-based hair discrimination, and more.https:\/\/t.co\/0r1ZjRMFQQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n And whereas the the prior version of the legislation contained language to help economically disadvantaged people enter the legal marijuana market, that language was revised to extend Small Business Administration (SBA) aid\u2014such as loans, financial literacy programs and job training\u2014to help people who have been harmed by the war on drugs pursue business opportunities in any industry, not just cannabis.<\/p>\n Advocates are encouraged by the new revisions to the bill, but there are still additional components they hope to see changed as it goes through the legislative process. For example, they also took issue with provisions\u00a0added to the MORE Act prior to last year\u2019s vote<\/a>\u00a0that would have stipulated that cannabis can still be included in drug testing programs for federal workers.<\/p>\n Today @HouseJudiciary<\/a> passed the MORE Act, long overdue legislation that reverses failed federal policies criminalizing marijuana. It also takes steps to address the heavy toll this policy has taken on communities across the country.<\/p>\n \u2014 Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) September 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n The current version of the MORE Act has 76 cosponsors. In addition to the Judiciary Committee, it has been referred to eight other panels. While last Congress\u2019s version of the bill went straight to the floor after clearing its first stop because other committees waived their jurisdiction, it\u2019s not clear if that will happen again this time.<\/p>\n Separately, a proposal to federally deschedule marijuana that does not include social equity components was\u00a0filed by a pair of Republican congressmen<\/a>\u00a0in May.<\/p>\n Chuck Schumer Says Key Senators Have \u2018Agreement\u2019 Not To Advance Marijuana Banking Reform Before Legalization<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Bill To Federally Legalize Marijuana Approved By Key House Committee<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
A key House committee on Thursday approved a bill to federally legalize marijuana and promote social equity. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act cleared the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by the legislation\u2019s sponsor, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), on a 26-15 vote. The tally fell largely alongContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50239"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50239"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50240,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50239\/revisions\/50240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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2. Expunge prior convictions of marijuana crimes
3. Tax marijuana
4. Set up a new government spending program<\/p>\n\n
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\nRead More: Bill To Federally Legalize Marijuana Approved By Key House Committee<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"