The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act gained five new sponsors yesterday in the U.S. House, continuing a surge in support following the Department of Justice’s recent marijuana rescheduling order.
The new sponsors are Representatives Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Donald Beyer (D-VA) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL). Their support brings the bill’s total number of sponsors to 70.
The legislation had only gained one new sponsors this year prior to the DOJ order moving state-legal medical marijuana and FDA-approved marijuana products to Schedule III. Since then, the proposal has added nine sponsors.
The MORE Act would remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act, ending federal prohibition while allowing states to continue regulating marijuana under their own laws.
The measure would also allow for the expungement of certain federal marijuana convictions and provide resentencing opportunities for some individuals still serving sentences for marijuana-related offenses. In addition, it would bar marijuana-related conduct from being used as the sole basis to deny federal benefits, immigration protections or security clearances.
The bill would establish a federal excise tax on marijuana sales, with revenue directed toward programs intended to support communities impacted by prohibition. It would also make marijuana businesses eligible for Small Business Administration programs and financing opportunities.
The MORE Act has twice passed the House when Democrats controlled the chamber, but it has never advanced through the Senate. Despite the recent increase in sponsors, the bill remains without Republican support in the current Congress.
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