Across the country, attitudes toward cannabis are becoming more permissive and accepting, but partisan gridlock in Congress virtually ensures that legislation to decriminalize marijuana will languish and die in the U.S. Senate.
Keep Reading Federal attempts to legalize cannabis flail, while public support grows
The U.S. House passed a bill last week to decriminalize marijuana, expunge convictions and create a framework for the legal sale of recreational pot. But the bill’s chances in the U.S. Senate are slim – and the prospect of state-level decriminalization in Iowa is even less likely, lawmakers said.
Keep Reading Iowa lawmakers strongly oppose cannabis despite federal legislation
The House voted 220-204 to approve the measure, which would fix the split between federal law and 19 states where recreational marijuana is legal. Three Republicans joined all but two Democrats in approving the measure.
Keep Reading U.S. House votes to decriminalize cannabis, Senate action less likely
As members of Congress announce that the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act will receive a floor vote next week, advocates are showing their support for the bill. With counterpart legislation expected soon in the Senate, groups like Marijuana Policy Project, NORML and Human Rights Watch have issued reports and statements.
Keep Reading Cannabis advocates show support for planned MORE Act House vote
Members of the US House of Representatives have announced that they will hold a floor vote next week on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act. Morgan Fox, Political Director of NORML, comments on the development.
Keep Reading NORML: US House of Representatives to Vote on MORE Act Next Week
Profiles in Legalization spoke with policy heads from three national reform organizations recently. Is legalization on the horizon? They provided their thoughts on how things look for next year.
Keep Reading Cannabis in ’22: Is federal legalization on the horizon?
Recent weeks have seen movement on two important pieces of federal cannabis reform. Cannabis banking was attached to a national defense bill and the MORE Act was voted out of committee.
Keep Reading Cannabis Banking: Defense amendments and the MORE Act
Statement from Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project: “We’re encouraged to see that the MORE Act is once again advancing in the U.S. House of Representatives. We cannot achieve meaningful and lasting criminal justice reform in our country without ending the war on cannabis. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have the opportunity and responsibility to come together and pass legislation to finally put an end to the decades-long failure that is federal cannabis prohibition. States across the country have taken the lead on cannabis legalization, and now it is time for Congress to pass federal reform, a policy that is supported by a strong majority of Americans.”
Keep Reading Congressional Committee Approves Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill
“We are thankful that the House continues to pursue sensible cannabis policy reforms and is once again moving on this important bill,” said Aaron Smith, co-founder and chief executive officer of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). “While the MORE Act lacks the robust regulatory structure we would like to see in a comprehensive descheduling bill, it represents the increasing support for ending prohibition among both lawmakers and the American public, not to mention the current policies of dozens of states around the country.”
Keep Reading House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill to End Federal Cannabis Prohibition