The House on Thursday approved the federal marijuana legalization measure for the second time ever. The recently passed bill referred to as Marijuana Opportunity and Expungement Act, generally known as the MORE Act, will decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the federal govt list of controlled substances. The legislation will eliminate criminal penalties associated with marijuana and further establish a process to remove convictions of nonviolent Marijuana offenders. It also involves imposing a tax on marijuana sales with proceeds funding programs for substance misuse and treatment and legal counseling. The bill had near-uniform support by democrats and a top ally in Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer.
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act was passed by a 220-204 vote on April 1. The bill, which the House previously passed in 2020, will next head to the U.S. Senate this year. Additionally, Senators Schumer, Booker, and Wyden plan to introduce a similar marijuana bill for debate.
Many managing partners of CBD companies are hoping that federal legislation could win for marijuana growers because of the ability to grow marijuana freely and because cannabis-related companies will finally have entrees to federally covered banks. Though it is permittable at the state level, you still can’t do a good business without the ability to contact the bank, such as getting a business loan out of this MORE Act.
Cultural Shift Paves the Way for House Vote to Legalize Marijuana Federally
On one side, it would effectively end the Reagan-era war on drugs. It also signals a national shift of attitude regarding the federal legalization of cannabis, weed, or marijuana.
It seemed to be guarded by an increasing public backing for marijuana reforms as most Americans now support legalizing the drugs. Polling shows that the American public supports the legalization of marijuana by large margins. Last year, a Pew Research Centre poll found that 91% of U.S. adults believe that marijuana should be federally legalized to some extent. According to the national conference of state legislatures, 37 states and four territories in the district of Columbia allow marijuana products for medical use. Cannabis is also permitted for non-medical use in 18 states, two parts, and the nation’s capital.
MORE Act Addresses Harm to American Communities of Color
Marijuana Justice Coalition, a coalition of U.S. marijuana reform organizations, has been a longtime focus of this bill movement.
Members of the alliance include the ACLU, Clergy for a New Drug Policy, Immigrant Defense Project, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. As a founding member of the Marijuana Justice Coalition, Human Rights Watch has researched and reported on the harms caused by U.S. drug laws on black and brown communities since the late 1990s.
White people use marijuana and other drugs at the same rates as Black people, the primary harm caused to people of color. People of color were more likely to be arrested for simple drug possession, according to a Human Rights Watch report from 2016. THE MORE Act, which emphasizes racial equity, provides an essential step toward repairing these and other harms caused by federal marijuana prohibition.
The organization has also analyzed the long-term consequences of minor drug convictions on immigrants, including deportation, ineligibility for asylum, and the inability to obtain papers to live legally in the U.S. Among other recommendations made in Human Rights Watch reports, the bill would protect noncitizens from immigration consequences due to cannabis-related events.
Cannabis Companies Join Forces to Sue the Federal Government with The All-Star Law Firm
Now the big question arises, will this pass in the Senate? The tougher vote. In this scenario, there is another piece of legislation, if passed, will allow marijuana companies to work with U.S. banks, which didn’t happen before.
The Safe Banking Act enables legal cannabis firms to use banking services and credit cards.
It was reported that several marijuana businesses and stakeholders are planning to file a lawsuit against the federal government in order to challenge what they consider unconstitutional policies hindering their operations. Some cannabis companies push lawmakers to get this bill presented to Biden’s desk before the November midterms. He also informs me they have retained a prominent law firm led by a top lawyer with experience handling high-profile federal cases.
Various attempts have been made to end federal prohibition through the court system in the past. Nonetheless, there is something special about this emerging initiative: Boies Schiller Flexner LLP will represent the coalition of multi-state operators (MSO) in the cannabis industry.
In addition to the Justice Department and former Vice President Al Gore, David Boies is chairman of a firm whose previous clients include the plaintiffs in a case that led to the abolition of California’s ban on same-sex marriages. It is a strong indicator that they see merit in the issue if they are willing to take on the marijuana industry’s position on the issue at hand.
Final Words – What to Expect
Although the U.S. House has passed the bill and more than 19 states are consuming the substance for medical or recreational purposes, there is still one more hurdle for people to light it up on the federal level, which is getting through the Senate.
People see a good chance for More Act to be passed in Senate, but there hasn’t been any comment from the White House, and the senators expect to see the first version of this bill later this month or the following.
What is essential to understand as a country is; if it goes through well from the Senate, how we will set up this as a new industry. Who will be the participants where this new wealth will be created, and who will participate in that? Apart, the black and brown communities that have been harmed due to prohibition will release.
