Millia Magazine Issue #3

The War on Drugs, which President Nixon announced back in June of 1971, has come under considerable scrutiny as of late. The vast majority of citizens feel that, as a whole, we have been waging war against the common man, and it's a battle none can win. The fact of the matter is, prohibition never works. We've seen this throughout history. So when the House Judiciary Committee approved the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, we saw modern history being made. It marked the first time a congressional committee has approved a marijuana legalization bill.

But what does the MORE Act do?

The MORE Act would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and remove it from the list of federally controlled substances. Considering medicinal marijuana is legal in 33 states and recreational use legal in 11, most agree that this legislation, which would allow states to set their own policies, is long overdue. Beyond giving states the power to rule as they see fit regarding cannabis, the bill would also require federal courts to expunge prior marijuana convictions while also giving states incentives to expunge the criminal records of those with marijuana offenses. Several proposals for more research on the demographic characteristics of people convicted of federal marijuana offenses, as well as the racial disparities in prohibition enforcement for communities targeted by the War on Drugs, were put forth and approved during this hearing.

Not only is the MORE Act set to correct some of these injustices, but it will also provide funding for community programs to help those who have been negatively impacted by imposing a 5% tax on all marijuana products.

"For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of a matter of personal choice and public health. Whatever one's views on the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes, arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating users at the federal level is unwise and unjust," stated House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler. A

Along with social justice, it would also allow physicians affiliated with the Veterans Administration to authorize medical marijuana to qualifying veterans who reside in legal states. As of right now, these physicians are permitted to discuss marijuana use, but they are prohibited from recommending it to their patients. Finally, the MORE Act would allow the Small Business Administration to support entrepreneurs and businesses in this growing industry. With nearly three-quarters of Americans believing marijuana should be legal, there has been growing bipartisan support; however, the MORE Act still faces many challenges before it becomes law. If you would like to help support this legislation, we recommend you contact your local lawmakers and representatives to urge their support. For more information on how to accomplish this, head over to NORML.org.