Key House Committee Sends Marijuana Legalization Bill To Floor For Vote

Dec 4, 2020 Washington, D.C.,

The MORE Act would remove cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, federally decriminalizing the substance while allowing states to set their own polices relating to cannabis. The bill expunges non-violent federal cannabis offenses, removes cannabis offenses from the list of deportable offenses, and blocks federal agencies from denying public benefits because of cannabis use. The bill also focuses on reinvestment into communities impacted by the War on Drugs by establishing a Cannabis Justice Office to oversee grants and funds. This office, and the trust fund it oversees is funded by a graduated excise tax that starts at 5% in the first year after passage, which ultimately graduates to 8%. After year six products would be taxed either by weight or by THC content, rather than price. All excise tax revenue goes to reparative justice efforts rather than the Treasury’s General fund.

The bill is scheduled for a floor vote on Friday (exact timing is currently fluid), but the rule for this bill limits debate to one hour with no amendments. Despite Republican opposition, this bill is likely to pass along party lines, with the possibility of a few Republicans joining the yes vote, though at least one Democrat (Connor Lamb, PA) has criticized the timing and scheduling of this vote in light of the government funding and COVID relief debate. This bill will not be taken up by the Senate this Congress.

David Mangone
Director of Policy
The Liaison Group
[email protected]

About Greenspoon Marder

Greenspoon Marder LLP is a full-service law firm with over 240 attorneys and more than 20 office locations across the United States. With operations from Miami to New York and from Denver to Los Angeles, our firm attracts some of the nation’s top talent in key markets and innovation hubs. Our core practice areas include Real Estate, Litigation, and Transactional Services, complemented by the capabilities of a full-service firm. Greenspoon Marder has upheld a spot on The American Lawyer’s Am Law 200 as one of the top law firms in the U.S. since 2015, and our goal is to provide exceptional client service by developing a thorough understanding of each client’s business needs and objectives in order to provide strategic, cost-effective solutions.

MEDIA CONTACT

Natalie Villanueva, Director of Marketing
954.333.4308 | [email protected]

This Greenspoon Marder LLP Client Alert is issued for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as general legal advice nor a solicitation of any type. Please contact the author(s) or your Greenspoon Marder LLP contact if you have any questions regarding the currency of this information. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision. Before you decide, ask for written information about the lawyer’s legal qualifications and experience.

Previous Next

News

Key House Committee Sends Marijuana Legalization Bill To Floor For Vote

Share

News & Events

News & Events