Federal Legislation to Deschedule Marijuana and Respect States' Rights Sponsored by Lawmakers From 33 States

Lawmakers from 33 different states are now sponsoring federal legislation to deschedule marijuana, and to respect state marijuana laws.

(Photo credit: Richard Vogel/Associated Press).

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, filed in April 2023 in the US House of Representatives, now has 94 sponsors, while the Senate’s Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) has 18 sponsors.

The MORE Act and CAOA would both fully deschedule marijuana, effectively ending its nationwide prohibition. Additionally, both measures propose a federal excise tax on legal marijuana sales and allow for the expungement of prior marijuana convictions.

The CAOA goes further by establishing federal safety standards for legal marijuana products. It includes creating a Center for Cannabis Products within the FDA, responsible for regulating production, labeling, distribution, sales, and other aspects of cannabis manufacturing and retail.

In the House, there is also the bipartisan States Reform Act (five sponsors), and the STATES 2.0 Act (10 sponsors). Both measures would alter federal law to allow states to determine their own marijuana law without fear of federal repercussions.

Combined, these measures are supported by representatives and senators from 33 different states, representing two-thirds of the entire country. In terms of total population, these states make up over 80% of all US residents.

Below are the states with lawmakers sponsoring one of the above-mentioned bills: