releases: https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/video-rep-gabbard-votes-end-marijuana-criminalization-protect-freedom-choice
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/video-rep-gabbard-votes-end-marijuana-criminalization-protect-freedom-choice | VIDEO: Rep. Gabbard Votes to End Marijuana Criminalization, Protect Freedom of Choice | 2020-12-04 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | Senate | HI | Tulsi Gabbard | G000571 | gabbard.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DCToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) voted to pass H.R.3884, the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act. Rep. Gabbard co-led introduction of the bill last summer along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (NY-10) and others. The bill would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, expunge pending and past convictions, and authorize a sales tax on marijuana with funds to be used for programs to help communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana's criminalization. The bill was passed by a vote of 228-164 and now goes to the Senate for consideration. During debate on the bill, Rep. Gabbard offered remarks in support of the bill. Her remarks follow: Finally. This is a historic moment that so many here and across the country have been working towards to take this step to end America's destructive and costly war on drugs that has turned everyday Americans into criminals and torn families apart ruining so many people's lives. This legislation removes cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and frees states to regulate it as they choose and encourages research into the medicinal qualities of this plant that we already know are changing people's lives and saving people's lives. It also applies retroactively, expunging prior convictions and records, freeing a generation of people from the shackles of this failed war on drugs. The bottom line is this vote is about freedom. It's about freedom of choice for every American to make their own decisions for themselves without fear of the government coming and arresting them. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. The Senate should pass it quickly so we can send it to the President for his signature. Background:H.R.3884, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act: Decriminalizes marijuana at the federal level by removing the substance from the Controlled Substances Act. This applies retroactively to prior and pending convictions, and enables states to set their own policy. Requires federal courts to expunge prior convictions, allows prior offenders to request expungement, and requires courts, on motion, to conduct re-sentencing hearings for those still under supervision. Authorizes the assessment of a 5% sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products to create an Opportunity Trust Fund, which includes three grant programs: The Community Reinvestment Grant Program: Provides services to the individuals most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, including job training, re-entry services, legal aid, literacy programs, youth recreation, mentoring, and substance use treatment. The Cannabis Opportunity Grant Program: Provides funds for loans to assist small businesses in the marijuana industry that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The Equitable Licensing Grant Program: Provides funds for programs that minimize barriers to marijuana licensing and employment for the individuals most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs. Opens up Small Business Administration funding for legitimate cannabis-related businesses and service providers. Provides non-discrimination protections for marijuana use or possession, and for prior convictions for a marijuana offense: Prohibits the denial of any federal public benefit (including housing) based on the use or possession of marijuana, or prior conviction for a marijuana offense. Provides that the use or possession of marijuana, or prior conviction for a marijuana offense, will have no adverse impact under the immigration laws. Requires the Bureau of Labor Statistics to collect data on the demographics of the industry to ensure people of color and those who are economically disadvantaged are participating in the industry. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act has the support of a broad coalition of civil rights, criminal justice, drug policy, and immigration groups, including: the Drug Policy Alliance, Center for American Progress, 4thMVMT, ACLU, California Minority Alliance, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Human Rights Watch, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Sentencing Project, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, UndocuBlack Network, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has long called for sensible marijuana policies as part of her ongoing commitment to common sense criminal justice reform. She introduced bipartisan legislation with Rep. Don Young (AK-at large) (the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act (H.R. 1588) and the Marijuana Data Collection Act (H.R. 1587). H.R. 1588 would remove marijuana from the federal controlled substances list. H.R. 1587 would direct the National Academy of Sciences to study the effects of state legalized medicinal and adult-use marijuana programs from a variety of perspectives, including state revenues, public health, substance abuse and opioids, criminal justice, and employment. She has called for closing the gaps between federal and state law to resolve current contradictions and provide legally abiding marijuana businesses with clear access to financial services. She joined several of her colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Secure And Fair Enforcement Banking Act (H.R.1595) in March 2019 which was passed by the House in September 2019. The bill would help prevent federal banking regulators from penalizing depository institutions for providing banking services to a legitimate marijuana-related business. She is a cosponsor of H.R.1456, the Marijuana Justice Act, to reform unjust federal marijuana laws and empower minority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the failed War on Drugs. And, to protect veterans engaged in the state-legalized cannabis industry, Rep. Gabbard sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie in June 2019 to demand a correction of the VA's denial of loan guarantee benefits to these veterans. Last year, Rep. Gabbard also introduced H.R.3652, the Hemp for Victory Act, which establishes studies of the benefits of hemp cultivation and hemp-based products as well as outlines a comprehensive approach to the re-emerging hemp industry in the United States. The bill outlines an industry-wide set of policies that are environmentally-friendly, protect the rights of workers, safeguard against monopolies, and promote small businesses. The bill will ensure that this resurgent cannabis industry grows for the benefit of all Americans especially those who were disproportionately impacted by America's misguided and failed war on drugs which criminalized hemp and marijuana. About Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard... Follow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media: ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |