House To Vote On MORE Act In December
In December the US House of Representatives will vote on the MORE law, which could decriminalize cannabis and change its status as a controlled substance. The vote was originally postponed after it was scheduled for September, but a letter released by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on November 9 said the bill would be debated in December during the lame-duck session.
The letter said: "The House will vote on the MORE bill that decriminalizes cannabis and eliminates nonviolent cannabis offenses that prevent many Americans from finding work, applying for loans, and accessing opportunities that help the economy move forward. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee last November, but the Senate Finance Committee has yet to vote.
The MORE bill passed by the US House of Representatives would be an important milestone for advocates of cannabis legalization. If the vote is indeed adopted, it would be the first important step towards legalization. As we and our industry partners work to get this legalization bill through Congress and eventually make it law, this work continues.
The main reason the MORE law is such a big deal is that it would effectively decriminalize cannabis at the federal level. Category I for cannabis and decriminalization of possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for personal use.
This means that cannabis would not be a criminal offense at the national level and more cannabis tests could be legally carried out. The law would also require that all convictions for cannabis must be overturned and a 5 percent excise tax must be added to the legal industry to fund eradication. It would be safe for the Bureau of Labor Statistics to collect data on the demographic evolution of industries to ensure that these are industries that are particularly affected by the war on drugs, such as medical cannabis and medical marijuana, as well as recreational drugs. The bill would also provide for a Small Business Administration that would benefit service providers and industrial companies.
The Community Reinvestment Grant Program would help those most affected by the war on drugs, including by providing training and legal assistance to those seeking help. It would also fund a number of different support programs and provide information on treatment options for these substances and access to mental health services.
It would also support the Cannabis Opportunity Grant Program, which provides a grant of up to $500,000 to businesses belonging to a socially and economically disadvantaged member of the community. Finally, an equal licensing program would help to remove barriers to entry for those who have been treated unfairly by the war on drugs. MORE cannot and should not become law, but it is exciting to finally have this conversation at the federal level.