While the anticipation for Donald Trump’s decision to reschedule cannabis continues, one of America’s longest serving members in Congress is sending shockwaves throughout the industry with legislation aimed at more broadly legalizing the plant.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., one of the top Democrats serving on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, reintroduced the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act on Aug. 29. The 91-page legislationNow in its fourth rendition. would legalize cannabis at the federal level by removing it completely from Controlled Substances Act.
Trump’s executive proposal coincides with the legislative proposal. He is considering reclassifying cannabis, which was started under Joe Biden, but never completed. Stalled From early January,
Nadler’s plan would not only decriminalize cannabis, but also provide expungements to those with cannabis-related crimes, as well as reinvestment options for the most vulnerable.
Nadler stated in a release that federal law must keep up with the increasing number of states legalizing marijuana, and as public support grows. Federal laws should reverse their failed criminalization policies. Cannabis Business Times. ”It’s long past the time for decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level. We should expunge convictions of marijuana and allow resentences while investing in the most severely affected communities by the drug war.”
In April 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two previous versions, including the MORE Act. cast a partisan voteThe party line is a strict 220-204.
Most recently, the legislation attracted 95 co-sponsors in the last Congress but failed to gain any traction in the Republican-controlled lower chamber.
In this week’s reintroduction, Nadler filed the MORE Act with 39 original co-sponsors, including Reps. Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.—the Democratic Party’s co-chairs for the bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus—and Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the House Committee on Small Business.
Titus stated that it was time for our laws to be updated to reflect cannabis’s use in America, to recognize and embrace the legitimate marijuana industry, as well as the benefits the plant offers to health care. “The federal governments must catch up and the bill is a way to do that while supporting local communities and businesses across the nation.”
It comes at a time when 24 states, Washington, D.C., as well as Washington, D.C., legalized marijuana for adults, and 40 states legalized it for medical use.
Nadler introduced the MORE Act for the first time in 2019 when, as the then Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he worked to advance the legislation. In the last month of Congress, the legislation was passed by a vote on the floor that saw 228 votes in favor and 164 against.
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee in this Congress, is still a major obstacle to the passage and implementation the MORE Act: He has voted no on the Act both in 2020 and 2012.
The MORE Act, in addition to legalizing marijuana in the U.S. would also impose an incremental federal excise duty on cannabis sales. This tax would begin at 5% during the first two implementation years and rise to 8% after the fifth. These tax revenues will be used to reinvest in adversely affected communities, and those who are looking for a way into the market.
Cannabis tax revenues would be placed in an “Opportunity Trust Fund” from which 60% of it would be given to the U.S. attorney general’s office for the implementation of certain parts. Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1967It is an initiative that aims to reduce the number of crimes and improve the efficiency, justice, and coordination between the law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system at every level of government.
The MORE Act, according to Nadler’s office:
- This decriminalizes the drug at the federal levels by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act. It applies to all prior and future convictions, and states can set their policy.
- Prior offenders can request that prior convictions be expunged. Also, courts must conduct hearings on court motion for anyone still in supervision.
- The bill authorizes the assessment of an additional 5% tax on marijuana, marijuana products and cannabis-related goods to establish a Trust Fund for Opportunity that includes three grant programs.
- Community Reinvestment Grant ProgramThere are many services available to those most negatively affected by the War on Drugs, such as job training, legal assistance, literacy programs for youth, recreation and mentoring, or substance abuse treatment.
- Cannabis Opportunity Grant ProgramProvides loans for small businesses that operate in the marijuana sector and are controlled and owned by people who have a social and economic disadvantage.
- Grants to Encourage Equitable LicensingProvides funding for programs designed to reduce barriers in the licensing of marijuana and the employment process for those who are most affected by the War on Drugs.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) funding is available for cannabis-related services and businesses.
- Protects against discrimination for the use of marijuana, possession and prior convictions.
- The federal government cannot deny any public benefits (including housing), based solely on marijuana use, possession or conviction.
- The immigration laws do not penalize those who use marijuana or possess marijuana or have a previous conviction.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics must collect demographic data about the industry in order to make sure that people of color, and economically disadvantaged individuals are included.
“For too long, communities of color have carried the weight of unfair marijuana laws that fueled incarceration and denied people opportunity,” Velázquez said. “The MORE Act is about justice, about giving people a second chance, and about making sure small businesses and workers in these communities can share in the benefits of legalization.”
A broad coalition of civil right, criminal justice and drug policy groups support the legislation, including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR), Drug Policy Alliance (NORML), Better Organizing to Win Legalization (BOL), Minorities for Medical Marijuana and the Center for American Progress.
Morgan Fox, NORML’s political director said that as states abandon their failed attempts at cannabis prohibition it is the responsibility of Congress to end the conflicts between state and federal laws and to do what it takes to undo the harm caused by more than a hundred years of criminalization. The legislation is the result of the desires of over two-thirds (67%) of the American people and it will establish a federal cannabis law that is science-based, pragmatic and focuses on justice.
One of the most senior members of the U.S. House is making new waves in the industry by introducing legislation that would legalize cannabis more widely.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., one of the top Democrats serving on the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, reintroduced the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act on Aug. 29. The 91-page legislationNow in its fourth rendition. would legalize cannabis at the federal level by removing it completely from Controlled Substances Act.
Trump’s executive proposal coincides with the legislative proposal. He is considering reclassifying cannabis, which was started under Joe Biden, but never completed. Stalled From early January,
Nadler’s vision includes decriminalizing cannabis and allowing individuals who have committed certain marijuana-related offences to be expunged. It also creates reinvestment possibilities for those affected most by the prohibition policy.
Nadler stated in a release that federal law must keep up with the increasing number of states legalizing marijuana, and as public support grows. Federal laws should reverse their failed criminalization policies. Cannabis Business Times. ”It’s long past the time for decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level. We should expunge convictions of marijuana and allow resentencing while investing in communities hardest hit by the drug war.”
Most recently, in April 2022 when legislators voted, the U.S. House passed versions of MORE Act that were two years old. cast a partisan voteThe party line is a strict 220-204.
Most recently, the legislation attracted 95 co-sponsors in the last Congress but failed to gain any traction in the Republican-controlled lower chamber.
In this week’s reintroduction, Nadler filed the MORE Act with 39 original co-sponsors, including Reps. Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.—the Democratic Party’s co-chairs for the bipartisan Congressional Cannabis Caucus—and Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the House Committee on Small Business.
Titus stated that it was time for our laws to be updated to reflect cannabis’ actual use in America, to recognize and embrace the thriving industry, as well as the many medical benefits the plant offers. “The federal governments must catch up and the bill is a way to do that while also supporting local communities and businesses across the nation.”
This legislation is a response to the fact that 24 states, including Washington, D.C., and 40 other states, have already legalized cannabis for adult use.
Nadler introduced the MORE Act for the first time in 2019 when, as the then Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he worked to advance the legislation. In the last month of Congress, the legislation was passed by a vote on the floor that saw 228 votes in favor and 164 against.
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairperson of the Judiciary Committee in this Congress, is still a major obstacle to the passage and implementation the MORE Act. In 2020, he voted no.
The MORE Act, in addition to legalizing marijuana in the U.S. would also impose an incremental federal excise duty on cannabis sales. This tax would begin at 5% during the first two implementation years and rise to 8% after the fifth. These tax revenues will be used to reinvest in disadvantaged communities, and those who are adversely impacted by the market.
Cannabis tax revenues would be placed in an “Opportunity Trust Fund” from which 60% of it would go to U.S. Attorneys General to implement portions of their plan. Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1967The program is intended to help state and local government reduce crime, and increase effectiveness, fairness, and coordination in the criminal justice and law enforcement systems.
The MORE Act, according to Nadler’s office:
- This decriminalizes the drug at the federal level, by taking the substance out of the Controlled Substances Act. It applies to all prior and future convictions, and states can set their policy.
- Prior offenders can request that prior convictions be expunged. Also, courts must conduct hearings on motion for anyone still in supervision.
- Allows for the imposition of a sales tax of 5% on marijuana and marijuana-related products in order to create a Trust Fund Opportunity, with three grant programs.
- Community Reinvestment Grant ProgramProvides services that are most detrimentally affected by the drug war, such as employment training, reentry assistance, legal aid and literacy programs.
- Cannabis Opportunity Grant ProgramProvides loans for small businesses that operate in the marijuana sector and are controlled and owned by people who have a social and economic disadvantage.
- Grants to Encourage Equitable LicensingFunds for programs that reduce barriers to employment and licensing of marijuana for those who are most affected by the War on Drugs.
- Small Business Administration funds can be made available to cannabis businesses that are legitimate.
- Non-discrimination provisions are provided for those who use marijuana or possess it, as well as for previous convictions.
- It is prohibited to deny federal benefits, including housing, based solely on marijuana use or possession.
- The immigration laws do not penalize those who use marijuana or possess marijuana or have a previous conviction.
- Obliges the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to collect information on demographics of this industry, to make certain that those of color or economically challenged are actively involved in it.
“For too long, communities of color have carried the weight of unfair marijuana laws that fueled incarceration and denied people opportunity,” Velázquez said. “The MORE Act is about justice, about giving people a second chance, and about making sure small businesses and workers in these communities can share in the benefits of legalization.”
The bill is supported by a wide coalition of civil and human rights groups as well as drug policy and criminal justice organizations. These include: Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Drug Policy Alliance; Better Organizing to Win Legalization; Minorities for Medical Marijuana and Center for American Progress.
Morgan Fox, NORML’s political director said that as states abandon their failed attempts at cannabis prohibition it is the responsibility of Congress to end the conflicts between federal and local laws and to do what it takes to undo the harm caused by a nearly century long criminalization policy. This legislation represents the will of two thirds of Americans and creates a federal framework for cannabis that is based on science, practicality and justice.
Cannabis Law Resources for Poland
Browse essential legal pages on cannabis sales and cultivation in Poland. These guides will help you understand the legal requirements, such as certifications and permissions.
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Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
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Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
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Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
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Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
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Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
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Registration of Medical Products in Poland