There’s a variety of marijuana-related bills currently active in the United States Congress, but only a select few have garnered enough support to have double-digit sponsors.
According to recent polling, 88% of US adults want marijuana legal for at least medical purposes. Separate polling shows that 63% want lawmakers to pass federal marijuana banking legislation. Despite such widespread and bipartisan support, lawmakers in Congress continue to slow-walk any legislation that would change federal marijuana laws.
That being said, there is some reason for optimism among marijuana reform advocates, including the growing support for a handful of marijuana-related bills.
Below is every marijuana-related bill in US Congress with at least 10 sponsors:
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The SAFE Banking Act – 112 Sponsors
The SAFE Banking Act has more sponsors than any other bill to ever been introduced in Congress with 112. The measure would explicitly allow banks and other financial institutions to provide banking services to marijuana businesses that are legal under their state’s laws.
The SAFER Banking Act has the support of the National Conference of State Legislatures, as well as a bipartisan group of 22 attorneys general.
According to Congressmember Nancy Mace (R-SC), the House has enough votes to pass the SAFE Banking Act, if House Speaker Mike Johnson were to put it to a vote.
The full text of the SAFE Banking Act, filed in April, can be found by clicking here.
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The MORE Act – 83 Sponsors
The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act seeks to eliminate marijuana as a federally controlled substance, effectively decriminalizing it across the nation. Introduced in September with 34 sponsors, the bill now boasts 87 sponsors, surpassing all other marijuana-related bills except the SAFE Banking Act.
In addition to removing marijuana from the controlled substances list, the MORE Act proposes a 5% federal excise tax on marijuana sales in states where it is legal for the first two years, with the tax rate rising to 8% by the fifth year. The bill also includes provisions to expunge marijuana convictions and safeguard marijuana users from being denied public benefits.
Representative Nadler has characterized the MORE Act as “one of the most comprehensive marijuana reform bills ever introduced in the U.S. Congress.”
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The SAFER Banking Act – 36 Sponsors
The SAFER Banking Act is an updated version of the SAFE Banking Act, filed in September. The measure has 36 sponsors, representing 36% of the entire Senate. This includes having support from Republicans and every independent senator.
Although the SAFER Banking Act differs slightly from the SAFE Banking Act, the base remains the same; it would provide explicit federal legal protections to banks and other financial institutions that provide financial services to state-legal marijuana businesses.
The legislation received approval by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs with bipartisan support in September, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer saying last month that it remains a top priority for the Senate.
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Veterans Equal Access Act – 29 Sponsors
In November, by a vote of 82 to 15, the full United States Senate gave approval to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bill. The measure includes a provision put forth by Senator Jeff Merkley (D) that would allow doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs to legally recommend marijuana to their patients, something that’s currently prohibited.
In July, the House of Representatives passed a similar, but slightly different, version of the same provision. The two chambers must now reconcile the two versions and vote again before it can be sent to President Biden for consideration.
Specifically, the Senate version of the provision states that “None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs in this Act may be used in a manner that would interfere with the ability of a veteran to participate in a medicinal marijuana program approved by a State”, or “deny any services from the Department to a veteran who is participating in such a program”, or “limit or interfere with the ability of a health care provider of the Department to make appropriate recommendations, fill out forms, or take steps to comply with such a program.”
A standalone federal bill called the Veterans Equal Access Act has 29 sponsors in the House.
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Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act (House) – 15 Sponsors
Filed in April of last year, the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act would allow veterans “to use, possess, or transport medical marijuana and to discuss the use of medical marijuana with a physician of the Department of Veterans Affairs as authorized by a State or Indian Tribe, and for other purposes.”
The House version of the bill has 15 sponsors.
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Small Business Tax Equity Act – 12 Sponsors
The bipartisan Small Business Tax Equity Act would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow deductions and credits relating to expenditures in connection with marijuana sales conducted in compliance with State law.”
The measure, filed in April, 2023, currently has 12 sponsors, including garnering a new sponsor in February.
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Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act (Senate) – 11 Sponsors
The Senate version of the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act has 11 sponsors. The text is identical to the House version of the bill, which is similar to the Veterans Equal Access Act.
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The STATES 2.0 Act – 10 Sponsors
The STATES 2.0 Act, introduced in December by a bipartisan coalition of five congressmembers led by Republican Dave Joyce, now has 10 sponsors. The proposed legislation would amend the Controlled Substances Act so that individuals acting in compliance with state marijuana laws would no longer be violating federal law. It would also permit commerce between states and tribes where marijuana is legal.
Additionally, the bill would modify section 280E of the IRS code, which currently prevents businesses engaged in federally illegal activities from claiming tax deductions. Even if these businesses are operating in accordance with their state’s laws, they are currently barred from standard tax deductions. The STATES 2.0 Act would change this, allowing state-legal marijuana businesses to claim these deductions.
