The U.S. House of Representatives voted Friday to decriminalize cannabis nationwide, with three Republicans joining all but two Democrats in passing the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act.
Passed by a vote of 220 to 204, the MORE Act would legalize cannabis nationwide and drop criminal penalties for growers, distributors and purchases of the plant.
Republicans Tom McClintock of California, and Brian Mast and Matt Gaetz, both of Florida, voted for the bill. Democrats Henry Cuellar of Texas and Chris Pappas of New Hampshire voted against it.
It was the second time the House has approved the MORE Act in the last two years. After passing the House roughly along party lines in 2020, the bill died in the Senate.
The legislation again faces a steep uphill battle in Congress’s upper chamber.
Senate Democrats would need the full support of all members of their party, as well as 10 Republicans, in order to reach the 60 vote threshold to pass a bill with the legislative filibuster in effect.
If approved by both houses of Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, the legislation would establish procedures for expunging prior marijuana convictions from people’s records and institute a national tax on cannabis products. It would also prevent federal agencies from denying employees security clearance based on marijuana use and would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend cannabis for medical use.
“This landmark legislation is one of the most important criminal justice reform bills in recent history — delivering justice for those harmed by the brutal, unfair consequences of criminalization; opening the doors of opportunity for all to participate in this rapidly growing industry; and decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level so we do not repeat the grave mistakes of our past,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday, according to The Hill.
UNITED STATES - APRIL 28: Members of the DC Marijuana Justice community hold a 51 blow-up joint on the National Mall ahead of President Joe Bidens address to a joint session of Congress to call on the administration to take action on legalization and expungement of criminal records on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag
Marijuana legalization has gained broad support in recent years.
In November, Gallup found that 68% of Americans are now in favor of legalizing marijuana nationally — a record high rate, and double as many as 20 years ago. Democrats and political independents widely agree that cannabis should be legal, while Republicans are evenly split on the matter.
Cannabis is currently legal in 18 states, two United States territories and Washington, D.C., according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. It is legal for medical use in 37 states.
Despite the MORE Act’s long shot of passing the Senate, more narrowly tailored bills could find success in the chamber.
The Senate last week passed a bill by unanimous consent that would expand research on marijuana, the Hill reported.
While the MORE Act may not receive much Republican support, the House has twice in the last year passed legislation allowing legally operating cannabis businesses to use credit cards and banking services. Dispensaries currently only accept cash or debit cards.
The bill to change that policy passed the House 321-101 with Republican support, according to the Hill.
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