AZ Marijuana Arizona Marijuana Info
Today, Dec 4, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act. This vote marks the first time in half a century that a chamber of Congress has voted on a bill to end the federal prohibition of marijuana.
The MORE Act is one of the most robust marijuana reform bills ever introduced in the U.S. Congress, the MPP reported.
If enacted, the MORE Act would end the war on cannabis at the federal level by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and ending criminal penalties under federal law.
“Today’s vote marks a historic victory for the marijuana policy reform movement, the MPP stated. “It indicates that federal lawmakers are finally listening to the overwhelming majority of Americans who are in favor of ending prohibition and comes at a critical time as this important measure addresses two key challenges we currently face.”
Key provisions in the MORE Act:
- Would end the criminalization of cannabis at the federal level, and it would be retroactive. Arrests, charges, and convictions would be automatically expunged at no cost to the individual.
- Would impose a 5% excise tax on the retail sale of cannabis that would go to the Opportunity Trust Fund.
- Would create the Office of Cannabis Justice to oversee the social equity provisions in the law.
- Would ensure the federal government could not discriminate against people because of cannabis use.
- Would open the door to cannabis-related research and banking.
In 2020, Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, and Mississippi legalized medical marijuana.
