releases: https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-vote-historic-cannabis-reform-legislation
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-vote-historic-cannabis-reform-legislation | House to Vote on Historic Cannabis Reform Legislation | 2020-12-03 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives will voteonthe Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, legislation supported by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) toend the federal prohibition of cannabisand ensure restorative justice for those impacted byit. Althoughcannabis willsoonbe legalin 15 statesfor adult use andin 36 statesfor medical use,itremains criminalized at the federal level,destroyinghundreds of thousandsof lives and wastingbillionsof dollarsontheselective enforcement ofan outdated and harmful system.The historic voteonFridaymarksthe first timea full chamber of Congress will vote toend thisprohibition. "I have been waiting for this historic moment for a long time. It is happening today because it has been demanded by the voters, by facts, and by the momentum behind this issue. This is an opportunity to strike a blow against the failed war on drugs, that has literally destroyed hundreds of thousands of young Black lives, Blumenauer, co-chair of the Congressional CannabisCaucus,said on the House floor.We are still arresting or citing 600,000 people a year for something that the majority of Americans now think should be legal. That's why the voters in this country took it into their own hands. That is why today, 99 percent of the American population has some access to legalized cannabis. The MORE Act will help us set up a system moving forward. The continued enforcement of cannabis prohibition laws results in over 600,000 arrests annually, disproportionately impactingpeople of color who are almost four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts, despite equal rates of use across populations.Too often, cases of low-level cannabis possession escalate to police violence. Formany, the selective enforcement of cannabis prohibitionbecomesamatter of life and death. People of color have also been historically targeted by discriminatoryprosecution andsentencing practices.Black men receivedrug sentences that are 13.1 percent longer than sentences imposed for white men.Latinosarenearly 6.5 times more likely to receive afederal sentence for cannabis possession than non-Hispanicwhites.Once released, peopleof coloroftencontinue to be robbed of their dignity, ashaving afelony convictioncan impacttheability to get an education, secure gainful employment,or vote. The MORE Act centers racial justicebydecriminalizingmarijuana at the federal level and enacting other policies, including: Expungement and resentencing:Requiresfederal courts to expunge marijuana arrests andconvictions andresentence those still in custody or under court supervision for a marijuana offense, pursuant to a judicial review process. Immigration reform:In 2013, simple cannabis possession was the fourth most common cause of deportation for any offense and the most common cause of deportation for drug law violations. The MORE Act ensures that marijuana is no longer considered a controlled substance for purposes of the immigration lawsand does so retroactively. Non-discrimination protections:Provides non-discrimination protections for marijuana use or possession and for prior convictions for a marijuana offense. Juvenile protection:Ensures that all benefits in the law are available to juveniles arrested and convicted. The MORE Act also centers economic justiceby ensuring that people of color are not shut out of the emerging regulated cannabis marketplace and reinvesting in communities most impacted by prohibition. Legal cannabis sales totaled $9.5 billion in 2017 and are projected to reach $23 billion by 2022. However,fewer than one-fifth of cannabis business owners identify as minorities and only approximatelyfourpercent areBlack.One reason for thisgapisthehistorically disproportionate arrest and conviction rates that make it particularly difficult for people of color to enter the legal cannabis marketplace. In order to address inequalities in the legal cannabis marketplace and ensure equal participation in the industry, the MORE Act supports: Restorative Justice Programs:Authorizes the assessment of afive percentexcise tax on sales of marijuana and marijuana products to fund programslikereentry services and substance use treatment. Equitable Business Access:Fund programsto open up opportunities for loans to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and for states to implement equitable cannabis licensing programs.The MORE Act also requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to collect data on the demographics of the industry to ensure equitable participation. Small Business Support: Currently, federal law severely limits access to loans and capital for cannabis businesses, disproportionately impacting minority small business owners. The MORE Act would open Small Business Administration resources for legitimate cannabis-related businesses and service providers. A full vote on the MORE Act is expectedFriday,December 4. The full text ofthe legislation (H.R.3884)is availablehere. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |