U.S. House of Reps Set to Vote
A landmark proposition has made its way to the House of Representatives recently, marking a monumental moment for those who support the decriminalization of marijuana. The “Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019”, or MORE Act, outlines legislation that would officially eradicate cannabis’s existence on the list of federally controlled substances.
This piece of legislation would also expunge any federal marijuana convictions and arrests, and allocate resources for communities negatively affected by the war on drugs. The MORE Act goes about this by removing marijuana from the Schedule I substance list, among which are drugs such as heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and peyote. The removal of marijuana from this category would leave the states to regulate the handling of marijuana distribution and consumption.
This bill brings with it a great deal of support from the public, with two-thirds of America’s population (mostly Democrat or left leaning individuals) supporting legalizing marijuana, according to Pew Research Center and Gallup polls conducted last year. Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and presenter of the bill, spoke out in support of the bill, saying “These steps are long overdue. For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of a matter of personal choice and public health.”
Many Democratic lawmakers and activists have spoken about the bill’s relevance to the war on drugs’ racist past. The racism embedded within the incarceration of those in possession of marijuana has added a greater sense of urgency and added pressure to the passing of the bill. While many states (eleven in total) have already legalized cannabis for recreational use, marijuana decriminalization on the federal level has been a source of great controversy, with President Trump posing stern opposition. The House of Representatives is set to vote on the legislation in September, and if the bill is passed it will make its way to the Senate where it will be viewed by such radically opposing members such as democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
If passed, the bill would mean a great deal to those with criminal records for the possession of marijuana. If you or someone you know is suffering from the repercussions and stigma of a criminal record, visit Easy Expunctions to see if you’re eligible for a quick and inexpensive expunction.
