This month, the US House will vote on a reform bill written to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act is a social justice-focused legislature. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the act in July 2019 to U.S. Congress. If passed by the Democratic-controlled House, the Republican-controlled Senate could still block it. If the House flips to Democratic in this cycle, MORE could be enacted by the Senate next year. The first step will be the full voting by the US House on cannabis descheduling this month.
The MORE Act in a Nutshell
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act aims to correct the historical injustices of failed drug policies. These policies have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities. The act will require the resentencing and expungement of prior cannabis convictions (including for Juveniles) creating new opportunities for many. Immigrants will also benefit from the MORE Act. Immigrants would no longer be subject to deportation or citizenship denial based on minor marijuana offenses.
Support for the MORE Act
The MORE Act was ambiguously supported at the Democratic National Convention. If Vice Presidental Nominee Harris is elected to office the Act will likely get more coverage. She states; “Times have changed — marijuana should not be a crime. We need to start regulating marijuana and expunge marijuana convictions from the records of millions of Americans so they can get on with their lives. As marijuana becomes legal across the country, we must make sure everyone — especially communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs — has a real opportunity to participate in this growing industry. I am thrilled to work with Chairman Nadler on this timely and important step toward racial and economic justice.”
How the MORE Act Would Effect You
If the vote supports cannabis descheduling, it would create business opportunities for legal cannabis nationwide. Unlike state-run cannabis programs, the national program would push for equitable license awards. If enacted as-is the MORE Act would;
- 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;
- 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.
