At long last, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act was voted on and passed by the US House of Representatives on Friday, April 1, 2022. This is one step closer to eventually removing it from the Controlled Substances Act Schedule 1 substance list and decriminalizing it. The historic vote repeals federal cannabis prohibition and allows states to legalize their cannabis markets free from federal control. However, connoisseurs must be aware that the bill still needs to pass Senate approval before moving to the President’s desk for his signature.

In addition to the MORE Act being passed, the Senate unanimously passed the Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion (CMRE) Act on March 24, 2022, which would streamline the application process for researchers, allowing them to study cannabis and push the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promote and develop cannabis-based pharmaceuticals. Having these two legislative proposals passed was a significant victory for the cannabis industry.

The MORE Act provides provisions for expungement to those with nonviolent federal cannabis convictions, promotes diverse participation in state-regulated markets, and helps repair the racial and economic harms done by America’s War on Drugs. If it passes through the Senate and receives the President’s approval, it could substantially alter the landscape of cannabis regulation in the U.S. This legislation carries significant implications for the future of cannabis legality, criminal justice reform, social equity, and representing a potential turning leaf approach to cannabis policy in the U.S.

High Times

U.S. House Passes MORE Act To Decriminalize Cannabis at the Federal Level | High Times

NORML

House Lawmakers Approve Legislation to End Federal Marijuana Prohibition – NORML