The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act Has Been Reintroduced
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) applauds the reintroduction of the MORE Act as a critical step toward dismantling the failed war on cannabis. For far too long, cannabis has remained classified as a Schedule I substance; defined as having a “high potential for abuse with no recognized medical use.” Despite 24 states fully legalizing cannabis and 47 states permitting cannabis for medical purposes, the federal government has failed to acknowledge both the medical value of cannabis and the injustices caused by decades of cannabis-related incarceration.
From its very first introduction, SSDP has championed the MORE Act as the most comprehensive path toward sensible cannabis policy reform. It would end federal prohibition, clear past convictions, reinvest in communities disproportionately harmed by prohibitionist policies, and support the development of a fair and equitable cannabis industry. The bill was reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, Dina Titus, Ilhan Omar, and Nydia Velázquez.
While recent federal discussions around rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III are a step forward, SSDP has consistently emphasized that rescheduling alone is not enough. Rescheduling would leave cannabis criminalized under federal law, continue to subject people to penalties, and fail to repair the harms caused by prohibition. Only full descheduling by removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act entirely can deliver the justice, equity, and opportunity that young people and impacted communities deserve.
The MORE Act provides exactly that path forward. The House has already made history by passing the MORE Act in the 116th and 117th Congresses. With the House once again leading the way, the Senate must act now to finally deliver on the promise of cannabis justice nationwide.
Young people deserve a future free from the lifelong harms of prohibition. SSDP urges everyone to contact their representatives and encourage them to support the MORE Act. Passing this legislation is a crucial step toward legalization, justice, and equity in cannabis policy nationwide.
Make your voice heard! Use our Federal Cannabis Action Alert to urge your members of Congress to vote and advocate for fair and responsible federal cannabis reform.
