US House Panel Passes Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday passed a bill that could make marijuana legal.

As The Hill reported, “Under the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, weed would be removed from the Controlled Substances Act, federally legalizing cannabis across the country. Additionally, past federal cannabis convictions would be required to be expunged.”

And this: “The bill would also establish the Cannabis Justice Office, an organization that would introduce a 5 percent tax on state-legal cannabis sales, among other things.”

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), chair of the committee, introduced the bill, which has gathered more than 50 co-sponsors in the House.

They include Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the Democrat of Hawaii.

“I’ve long been a champion for ending the federal marijuana prohibition, and today’s vote on the MORE Act is a crucial step forward toward ending our failed marijuana policy which has ruined people’s lives and strained our criminal justice system,” Gabbard said in a press release Wednesday.

“Wednesday’s vote marks the first time that a congressional committee has voted in approval of the legalization of marijuana,” said The Hill.

Hawaii this year approved replacing criminal penalties for possessing 3 grams or less of marijuana with a $130 fine. The new law also allows those charged with possession to have their records expunged if the charge wasn’t related to other crimes.