Federal legislation to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act has gained another sponsor in the U.S. House.
Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) signed on Tuesday as a sponsor of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, bringing the proposal to 74 total sponsors. Stansbury is the 12th lawmaker to add their name to the bill since the Department of Justice signed its order to reschedule marijuana in April.
The MORE Act would fully deschedule marijuana at the federal level, ending federal prohibition while allowing states to continue setting their own laws for legal, medical or prohibited marijuana markets.
The bill would also establish several criminal justice reforms, including procedures to expunge certain federal marijuana convictions and allow resentencing for some individuals currently serving sentences for federal marijuana-related offenses.
In addition, the measure would prevent marijuana-related activity from being used as the sole basis for denying federal benefits, immigration protections or security clearances. It would also open access to Small Business Administration programs for marijuana businesses operating in accordance with state law.
The legislation includes a federal excise tax on marijuana products, with revenue directed to community reinvestment programs, substance use treatment, job training, legal aid and services for communities harmed by prohibition-era enforcement.
The MORE Act has passed the House twice in previous sessions of Congress, but has never cleared the Senate. Its growing sponsor count comes as federal marijuana policy remains in flux, with rescheduling proceedings ongoing and lawmakers continuing to push competing approaches to reform.
