House passes bill to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level
The House of Representatives has taken a historic vote to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level.
The House passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which would federally decriminalize marijuana and create "a process to remove prior convictions," in a 228-164 vote on Friday, CNN reports. The bill also includes a five percent tax on marijuana to fund programs for "individuals most adversely impacted by the war on drugs," Axios reports.
The MORE Act is not seen as having a chance at passing in the Republican-controlled Senate, but the move was still significant in that it was the first time that one of the chambers of Congress voted to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level, Axios noted.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) in a statement on Friday said this "long overdue legislation would reverse the failed policy of criminalizing marijuana on the federal level and would take steps to address the heavy toll this policy has taken across the country, particularly on communities of color."
Republican leaders criticized Democrats over the vote on the MORE Act amid negotiations on COVID-19 relief, with House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) calling it "tone-deaf" and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sarcastically saying, "The House of Representatives is spending this week on pressing issues like marijuana. You know, serious and important legislation befitting this national crisis."
But Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who co-sponsored the legislation, said Friday, "My Republican colleagues today will make a number of arguments against this bill, but those arguments are overwhelmingly losing with the American people."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
'Musk's reliance on China draws rising scrutiny'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Biba: the story of a 'legendary emporium'
The Week Recommends Brand's 60th anniversary is being marked with retrospective celebrating the 'iconic shop's cultural importance'
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
How the Russia-Ukraine conflict has spread to Africa
The Explainer Ukraine is attempting to strengthen its alliances on the continent to counter Russia's growing presence
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published