In a historic vote, on Friday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would de-schedule cannabis federally, expunge federal cannabis convictions (not just low level ones) and allow states to legalize at their own pace.
The vote is widely considered symbolic since it faces long odds in the Senate. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), a hemp industry ally, remains opposed to cannabis legalization.
Even if Democrats win both Georgia Senate run-offs and take control of the chamber, it’s not clear whether it would pass. While MORE Act sponsor and vice president-elect Kamala Harris (D) would cast the tie-breaking vote, some of the bill’s progressive aspects could sink it with fence-sitting legalization supporters in both parties.
Among the bill’s provisions, it would:
- Allow VA physicians to recommend MED in legal states.
- Create a 5% national pot sales tax, climbing to 8% within three years, to benefit equity causes. The tax has attracted criticism from some legalization supporters.
If passed, the bill would likely also accelerate MED research and normalized cannabis banking.
- Cannabis Wire looked at who lobbied on the MORE Act. (Paywall)
