House of Representatives paves way for full country-wide legalisation

Marijuana advocates had something to celebrate last week when the House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. The House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act with a 228-164 vote. Six Democrats voted against and five Republicans voted in favor. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz was the only Republican to support the law. The move would not only remove marijuana from the list of state-controlled substances, it would also lift federal convictions for non-violent marijuana offenses. "This long overdue legislation would undo the failed policy of criminalizing marijuana at the federal level and take action to combat the heavy toll that this policy has taken across the country, particularly for colored communities," said the chairman of the judiciary committee House of Representatives, Jerrold Nadler, after the passage of the MORE Act. Speaking in the House of Representatives before the vote, Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries said, "The United States is incarcerating more people than any other country in the world. We have ruined lives, families and communities. It's an eyesore on our democracy. Marijuana use is either socially acceptable behavior or it is criminal behavior. But it may not be socially acceptable behavior in some neighborhoods and criminal behavior in other neighborhoods if the dividing line is race. " Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell wasn't exactly thrilled that House Democrats are voting on a bill to decriminalize marijuana instead of focusing on fighting the coronavirus. "The House of Representatives is spending this week on pressing issues like marijuana. Marijuana. You know, serious and important legislation appropriate to the national crisis," McConnell said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged McConnell to put the Senate legislation to the vote, saying, "The House of Representatives has taken a historic step to finally end the federal marijuana ban." "Today's bipartisan vote shows how far this movement has come. I am encouraged by the measures that the House has taken and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support these efforts as well," commented Schumer. The bill is now going to the Senate, where unfortunately it is unlikely to be passed.