Marijuana Moment reported that the Senate unanimously voted "yes" on the Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion Act. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is formed by the transmission of information between you and the National Law Review website or any of the law firms, attorneys or other professionals or organizations who include content on the National Law Review website. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act was introduced by House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat from New York. The bill is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Cory Booker, and Senator Ron Wyden. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Democratic-controlled House Friday passed the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act by a 220-204 vote that fell almost entirely along party lines. The Cannabis Administrative and Opportunity (CAO) Act, the Senate's comprehensive marijuana bill, has yet to be filed in 2022. The act would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and provide essential restorative justice provisions to begin to undo decades of harm caused by prohibition., 5 percent tax on retail sales of cannabis would go to the Opportunity Trust Fund, Creation of an Office of Cannabis Justice, Government prohibition of discrimination on basis of cannabis use. This is the second time the bill passed the House; however, it will face strong headwinds in the Senate. Gretchen Whitmer's support of the bill. Multiple Concussions Result in Greater Cognitive Deficits, DOL Issues Internal Guidance on Telework Under the FLSA & FMLA, USPTO Launches Cancer Moonshot Expedited Examination Pilot Program. US Executive Branch Update February 28, 2023. legal industry generated $25 billion in sales last year. Any bill not signed into law by the time Congress adjourns on January 3 will have to be reintroduced, so that most likely will be the fate for the MORE Act or any other prominent. The momentous effort would be a welcome change of pace for advocates. Discovery sues Paramount in South Park streaming fight. The House passed its own legislation in July, but that proposal stalled in the Senate, where some Republicans raised concerns that it would stifle religious liberty. Good News for American Businesses: H1-B Denial Rates Plummet Under USCIS Extends Comment Period for Proposed Fee Increases, OFCCP Rescinds Trump-Era Religious Exemption Rule. Litigation Setback for Employers Under Illinois Biometric Information Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Future of Low Carbon Transportation North Carolina Senate Passes Compassionate Care Act at Exactly 4:20 States and Feds Signal Big Changes to Telehealth Prescribing. The Democrats theyve been working with are Baldwin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.). The vote fell largely along party lines, with 6 Democrats voting against the bill and 5 Republicans voting . If you have questions about proposed legislation, preventing fraud or would like to learn how Baker Tilly can help, please contact our team. This was a vote to pass H.R. The House. We hope to do that towards the end of April, Schumer said in remarks last week, noting discussions with Sens. The MORE Act simply decriminalizes it by ending the federal ban (removing it from list of federally controlled substances) and removing associated federal penalties. Previous House-passed cannabis legislation has effectively died in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster and bring legislation to a vote. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., that is expected to . Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 09:27 AM EST. Psaki when on to say As the president said during the campaign, our current marijuana laws are not working. This week, a closer look at legislation that could have national implications. The Cannabis Administrative and Opportunity (CAO) Act, Cannabis would be removed from the list of drugs regulated by the Controlled Substances Act, Criminal penalties for federal cannabis offenses would be eliminated, Past federal cannabis convictions would be expunged. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who vowed to make marijuana legislation a priority, is working on a separate bill with Sens. The margin of victory was smaller this year, as opposed to 228-164 the first time the MORE Act passed the House. It also updated rules earlier this month that could deny security clearances to prospective job candidates who invested in legal cannabis companies. Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Agreements with Non-Supervisory USCIS Confirms It Will Accept Employment-Based I-485 Applications New Jersey Enacts Bill of Rights for Temporary Workers, DOJ Implements Nationwide Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program. SAFE Banking Act. Just three Republicans voted in . You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Specifically, it removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. This week we'll be taking a closer look at the MORE (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement) Act. "So, for us, it is a huge accomplishment.". A commonly cited concern with the planned excise proposed in the MORE Act is the tax, in combination with state and local sales taxes, will make cannabis sold through nonlicensed retailers less expensive thereby bolstering the black-market economy. If you require legal or professional advice, kindly contact an attorney or other suitable professional advisor. It was not taken up by the Senate, which had at the time been led by Republicans. Other business practices that could become available to cannabis companies if this passes is advertising on Google ads, sending business related SMS, leveraging social media for advertising, and more. April 18, 2022 Modern Canna Cannabis, Cannabis Legalization, Laws & Regulations For the second time in American history, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on whether or not to end the federal ban on cannabis - and it passed. From year five and beyond the tax would be 8% of the Treasury Departments established prevailing sales price. 2023 Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, National Law Review, Volume XII, Number 98, Public Services, Infrastructure, Transportation, Mandatory Arbitration Agreements Remain Valid in California, Antitrust Practitioners Expect Activity With Climate Issues. Until congress addresses the inability to access the financial system, the cannabis industry will continue to operate as a largely cash-based business. Congress will vote on the MORE Act to decriminalize marijuana Friday. The legal industry generated $25 billion in sales last year, a 43% increase over 2020, and is expected to hit $65 billion in 2030. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Perhaps the biggest hurdle for the MORE Act getting time in the Senate is that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, are planning to finally formally introduce their much-anticipated federal decriminalization bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act later this month. The Kentucky Senate voted Wednesday, March 1, 2023, to broaden an address confidentiality program intended to protect domestic violence victims from their abusers. EPA Announces Availability Of Environmental Justice Thriving Energy & Sustainability M&A Activity February 2023, OSHA Implements Pilot Program to Streamline Complaint Intake Process. As a reminder, we've covered the topic legalization or decriminalization of cannabis in the past, here are a couple of our more recent posts: Marijuana Legalization, Criminal Justice Reform, and our Long Overdue Reckoning Guest post by NORML, Lets do marijuana legalization the right way a closer look at KY HB 136 and SB 80, Colorado Gov Given Power to Expunge Marijuana Crimes, 8 Years after State Legalization, and Sessions versus Marijuana: What Are His Options?. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is up for debate on the Senate floor. "We've waited four decades for this," said Samantha Rogers, a transgender activist, who started the nonprofit Teaching Detroit. He says the passing of Senate Bill 4 is a win, but he's sad it took so long. The MORE Act does not end the war on drugs; all it does is poison our children and weaken our country, said Palazzo. Amendment No. The MORE Act is thought to have an uphill battle in the Senate. The MORE Act was passed last year in the House as well, but failed to gain any traction in the Senate. Gov. Senate Votes. If the MORE Act becomes law, it would deschedule marijuana by removing it from the list of federally banned drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. But after the now-conservative court struck down Roe v. Wade in June tossing out nearly 50 years of precedent on reproductive rights Democrats and some Republicans are anxious about the courts plans for weakening other civil rights. The MORE Act is also pending before the Senate. CORRECTION: Morgan Fox is the policy director at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Recent FTC Enforcement Action Merits Cyber Insurance Coverage Review, Two Ways to Redefine & Achieve CRM Success. Just three Republicans voted in favor and two Democrats opposed. There are also competing bills within the House. The New York City Council Sets its Sights on Non-Profit Housing DOJ Announces New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy for U.S. Attorney Supreme Court: Salary, Not Daily Pay, Required for FLSA Overtime Time Is Money: A Quick Wage-Hour Tip on the Tip Credit, EDPB issues its Opinion on the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, Hunton Andrews Kurths Privacy and Cybersecurity. The bill passed the House in 2020 but saw no action in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass most legislation. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment. Earl Carter, a Republican from Georgia, embraced old stereotypes on marijuana use: As a pharmacist, I can tell you, marijuana is nothing more than a gateway drugit leads to other, harder drugs, said Carter. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed. Challenges to the No Surprises Act Continue: The Latest includes a Navigating Permissive State Laws in Light of the Federal Information FDA Publishes List of 2023 Priority Guidance Topics. This is for two reasons, one, there are not many banks that take on cannabis related banking, and two, the federal illegality of cannabis increases the amount of paperwork and oversight needed by banks. Baldwin also released an overview of what the Senate proposal will do. Will the U.S. Supreme Court Make Marijuana Legal? The MORE Act would also remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), provide an avenue for the expungement of federal cannabis arrest and convictions, and require the Bureau of Labor Statistics to regularly publish demographic data on cannabis business owners and employees. Senator Feinstein said when the bill was introduced last year, Our bill will remove excessive barriers that make it difficult for researchers to study the effectiveness and safety of marijuana, and hopefully, give patients more treatment options.. The bill the Senate will consider, the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act would . Now, nearly six months later, three additional states have already legalized adult-use cannabis and as many as three others may do so before the end of . Some states have laws and ethical rules regarding solicitation and advertisement practices by attorneys and/or other professionals. "It is too late for them, but we can make sure that it doesn't happen to others in the future.". This is misguided; this is wrong., Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona, referred to the bill as a piece of garbage, claiming it will legalize activity and businesses controlled by international drug cartels. The 10 year anniversary of recreational legalization for Colorado and Washington is coming up this fall and we have fallen short addressing this as a country. This would only be the second time in history that a federal marijuana legalization bill would reach the House floor for voting. Friday Development: New Sanctions and Export Controls to Address Weekly IRS Roundup February 20 February 24, 2023, Everything to Know About Unbundled Legal Services. The excise tax would be based on the products sale price and start at a base level of 5% for the first two years. Despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans are in favor of legal marijuana, there were plenty of naysayers in the House. Democratic senators leading a push to legalize marijuana say they are now on track to introduce legislation before recess in August, after initially announcing plans to file a comprehensive reform . The Final CCPA Regulations: What You Need To Know, Are College Athletes Students or Employees? . It faces a stern test in the Senate this year but it's progress no matter the outcome. The bill, which the House previously passed in 2020, will next head to the US Senate. Learn More. Partly because of the politics, but also because the Senate has its own comprehensive bill on marijuana reform called the Cannabis Administrative and Opportunity Act (the CAO Act), which is set to be reintroduced later this month following several months of public comment and revisions. A bipartisan group of senators has been trying for months to pass a marriage equality bill to protect same-sex and interracial relationships. Most Republicans voted no, but three GOP lawmakers joined the Democratic majority in the 23-15 vote. We are going to get this done for loving families across America. Many people are worried that the competing interests between the MORE and COA Acts could create an unnecessary deadlock. The last time the House passed the bill the Senate did not take it up to a vote. Investors are likely betting on the stocks due to the fact that the MORE Act has already passed the House once before with bipartisan support. The bills advocates say that under current law, in which financial institutions could be penalized for working with cannabis businesses, dispensaries are forced to hold large sums of cash, making them prime targets for robberies. This week, the Senate also passed a bill to promote research into the medical benefits of marijuana. He told The Verge he hopes the Senate will finally [pass the MORE Act] so the federal government can join dozens of states in putting an end to these unfair and outdated policies.. Steven Palazzo, a Republican from Mississippi, raised concerns over how decriminalizing marijuana on the federal level would hurt kids. "Several candidates that we backed were elected and a couple of them are sponsoring this bill," Renautt said. It has ruined individual lives, ruined families and ruined communities, particularly in communities of color, said Jeffries. These four House Republicans broke with the GOP to oppose inflation estimates McCarthy, GOP pump brakes on release of Jan. 6 footage to Tucker Carlson, Christie: Trump grand jury foreperson did a lot of damage to case. Whatever ones views are on the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use, the policy of arrest, prosecution and incarceration at the federal level has proven both unwise and unjust, Nadler said. The MORE Act would also ensure the federal government could not discriminate against people because of cannabis use. The House-passed bill included the SAFE Banking Act, while the Senate version did not. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) The North Carolina Senate is scheduled to vote this week whether to legalize medical marijuana, and House leaders say there's growing support this year for getting a bill to the governor to sign. Customer Reviews: Five-Star Enforcement and the Expanding Regulations. March 24, 2022 Momentum continues to grow for comprehensive marijuana policy reform as Congress prepares to vote for only second time in history to repeal federal prohibition Members of the US House of Representatives have announced that they will hold a floor vote next week on the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act. This is not out of the ordinary; this is something Americans tells us is an appropriate thing to do.. The bill is headed to the House where it's expected to pass, given democratic control of the chamber and Gov. The MORE Act is thought to have an uphill battle in the Senate. WASHINGTON The House of Representatives on Friday voted to federally legalize marijuana, but the bill faces long odds in the Senate and a . Biden took a softer line during the 2020 presidential campaign, saying he would seek to reschedule cannabis as a Schedule II drug so researchers can study its positive and negative impacts. He has not yet taken action on rescheduling. During the previous Congress, the House passed a similar version of the bill by a vote of 228-164, but it failed to advance in the Republican-controlled Senate. The MORE Act was first passed by the House in December 2020 and it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance in the Senate. For each year thereafter up until year five, the rate would increase 1% annually. IT'S HAPPENING! And because the Senate plans to take the House bill and simply amend it, versus senators introducing an entirely new bill, the House only has to vote to accept the changes to their bill versus starting the process over again. He says former President Richard Nixons failed war on drugs disproportionately targeted Black and Latino Americans and noted that the fact that the U.S. imprisons more people per capita than China and Russia is a stain. Ending the federal governments ban on pot would be a step in a positive direction. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key centrist, told The Hill he is very much supportive of medical marijuana, though he still has concerns about legalizing recreational marijuana.. That means the Senate bill needs at least 10 Republicans to support it, too, in order to overcome a filibuster. Ideology Vote Chart Key: The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act passed by a 220-204 vote on April 1. . So who are they? People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Cliff Bentz, a Republican from Oregon, managed the bills opposition, said the MORE Act is a bad and incomplete bill. Representing southern Oregon, where illegal cannabis grows have become a pervasive problem rife with organized crime, says a better bill would fund the police to battle issues like the illicit market. 3617 (117th): Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act Apr 1, 2022 at 12:31 p.m. Because of this, this industry faces huge obstacles (think back to the banking laws), and Americans are still paying to price of outdated penalties for cannabis use. Nota Bene Episode 160: European Update: Oliver Heinisch and Scott Federal Communications Commission to Consider Rules and Proposals to Whats the Standard? This Week in 340B: February 21 27, 2023. "The change proposed to Elliot-Larsen goes too far because it seeks to protect one group of people at the expense of others," Sen. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, said. In recent years, cannabis has become legal for medical use in 36 states and for adult, recreational use in 19 states. Automatic expungement of cannabis arrests, charges, and convictions. The content and links on www.NatLawReview.comare intended for general information purposes only. Joshua Miller works alongside Renautt through Unity Fund. This historic move is largely credited to years of grassroots efforts. The Michigan Senate passed an amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act that explicitly includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. The MORE Act uses the many states that have legalized cannabis over the past decade as a blueprint and would impose a popular tax on cannabis sales. By. How Modern Manufacturing Plants Can Protect Against Ransomware, FTC Will Host May 23, 2023, Workshop on Recyclable Claims and the Appellate Court Affirmed An Order Denying A Beneficiarys Request For An Overview of Why Class Action Privacy Lawsuits May Have Just Gotten Gold Dome Report Legislative Day 26 (2023). 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