In terms of timing on the marriage equality bill, the Senate is expected to vote on it later this week, per the source familiar with negotiations. This year, the MORE Act was filed again, and passed out of the House just a few weeks ago on April 1st. Its kind of difficult to really rally conversations and hearings around a bill that doesnt technically exist, he said. She just wanted basic human rights. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. When asked about the MORE Act, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden agrees with most Democratic lawmakers that our current marijuana laws are not working, but did not specify if Biden supports the MORE Act. The bill restarted with the current Congress. If the House passes the MORE Act, the next step would be to move the bill to the Senate. The fast-growing cannabis industry, which employs more than 400,000 U.S. workers, has suggested that lawmakers could pass the banking bill alongside other bipartisan bills to expunge weed convictions. In July 2021, protestors gather to protest criminalization of cannabis and promote the MORE Act, to be voted on in the House next week. It was not taken up by the Senate, which had at the time been led by Republicans. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Wednesday that her department is supportive of the SAFE Banking Act and lamented that Congress has not updated federal law to accommodate states that have legalized weed. The House passed the MORE Act previously, in late 2020, but the bill went nowhere in the U.S. Senate. Joshua Miller works alongside Renautt through Unity Fund. WASHINGTON Senate Democrats made an impassioned case on Wednesday for legislation to counter an onslaught of new voting restrictions around the country, but they failed to overcome a Republican. Its time to end the federal cannabis prohibition., House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said this is an important issue because the majority of Americans want cannabis to be legal. That means the Senate bill needs at least 10 Republicans to support it, too, in order to overcome a filibuster. The MORE Act, however, is expected to fail in the Senate. But with midterms looming, advocates think the timing may finally be right for Congress to take action. So far, the only GOP senators saying anything about this weeks forthcoming bill are the three who are in the bipartisan group that helped get a deal on the bill in the first place: Sens. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont. Telephone and Texting Compliance News: Regulatory Update February 2023. Nancy Mace, the freshman representative from South Carolinas coastal swing district spanning from Charleston to Hilton Head, introduced the States Reform Act, a bill that would end the federal governments 85-year prohibition on marijuana, last year. I would not think it would pass the Senate right now, he said. A final vote could come soon. The House already passed this bill to remove cannabis from its list of federally controlled substances back . The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. This bill will drive up demand for marijuana and up the cartels across the United States, he said. . This is the second time the bill passed the House; however, it will face strong headwinds in the Senate. On Wednesday, Michigan senators voted to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for LGBTQ people. We have the votes, a source close to negotiations confirmed Monday. The guidelines for physicians and the Department of Health and Human Services will be clarified through this bill. The excise tax would be based on the products sale price and start at a base level of 5% for the first two years. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The plan needed 60 votes to. 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. The MORE Act On Friday, May 28, 2021, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) reintroduced the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE. The MORE Act will reach the House floor for an official vote next week, and after that it could head to the Senate. It also updated rules earlier this month that could deny security clearances to prospective job candidates who invested in legal cannabis companies. Congress will vote on the MORE Act to decriminalize marijuana Friday. White House Reviewing Proposed Regulations on Reinstated Superfund You Dont Need a Machine to Predict What the FTC Might Do About Is It Compensable? If the House passes the MORE Act, the next step would be to move the bill to the Senate. "Several candidates that we backed were elected and a couple of them are sponsoring this bill," Renautt said. In that instance, senators offered up 43 amendments for a vote, leading to a session. Totals Passed. The MORE Act does not end the war on drugs; all it does is poison our children and weaken our country, said Palazzo. He also added that he has been reaching out to a few Republicans to see what they want.. The voting happened along party lines, with 220 votes in favor and 204 opposed. As described above, the MORE Act proposes an excise tax on cannabis products. 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. I have concerns about recreational marijuana, and given the substance abuse crisis we have in this country, and we have an issue in New Hampshire and the lack of comprehensive data on how people are affected, she said. This week, the Senate also passed a bill to promote research into the medical benefits of marijuana. Biden administration unveils long-awaited national cyber strategy, Lawmakers trounce Lobbyists in annual charity hockey game, These four House Republicans broke with the GOP to oppose inflation estimates bill, Biden mocks Rep. 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We absolutely do not need to leave the cannabis industry, or every day Americans, with another year of failed reforms. Sessions versus Marijuana: What Are His Options? On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act in a 220-204 vote. Commentators have noted that a vote on the MORE Act would be the first time the full . Opponents argued the bill could infringe on religious rights and create what's called a "super right" for the queer community. The excise tax would be based on the product's sale price and start at a base level of 5% for the first two years. The bill is one of a number introduced recently to decriminalize and tax the drug. ), a member of GOP leadership, cast doubt on its chances. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Because cannabis is technically still illegal at a federal level, it is still technically illegal to medically research cannabis. Backers havesaidthe plan seeks to build upon the text seen in the MORE Act, with proposals aimed at addressing items like drugged driving and safety standards, among other measures. If youre going to do this, get it right., In response, Nadler said: You pass this bill, and the cartels will no longer have a monopoly.. The Community Reinvestment Grant Program would provide eligible entities with funds to administer services for individuals adversely impacted by the War on Drugs. The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act cleared the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by the legislation's sponsor, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), on a 26-15 vote. Among other things, the MORE Act would remove marijuana from the schedules of controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), legalizing many marijuana-related activities at the federal level. There are also competing bills within the House. The Kentucky Senate voted Wednesday, March 1, 2023, to broaden an address confidentiality program intended to protect domestic violence victims from their abusers. A bipartisan group of senators has been trying for months to pass a marriage equality bill to protect same-sex and interracial relationships. If he is, it would be the first time that Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman's absence had an effect on a vote in the Senate because then the measure would only need 50 votes to pass. He is also the assistant district attorney for Oakland County. Schumer has previously blocked the legislation, which has passed the House several times and has nine Republican co-sponsors in the Senate, over concerns that its passage would make it harder for lawmakers to pass comprehensive marijuana reform. Five representatives, Ted Budd (R), Cheri Bustos (D), Liz Cheney (R), Mike Johnson (R), and Lee Zeldin (R), did not vote. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is up for debate on the Senate floor. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. 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. To me, thats pretty shocking you would think the budget is an area where he could make a statement, she said. 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 information provided here is of a general nature and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any individual or entity. U.S. Senate Unanimously Approves Marijuana Reform Bill On Same Day That House Schedules Legalization Vote - Marijuana Moment Politics U.S. Senate Unanimously Approves Marijuana Reform Bill On Same Day That House Schedules Legalization Vote Published 11 months ago on March 24, 2022 By Kyle Jaeger Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. It was April Fools Day, but it was not a joke. So who are they? BIPA ALERT: Illinois Supreme Court Opens the Door to Punitive, President Biden to Nominate Julie Su as New Secretary of Labor, The European Unitary Patent: Why Retailers Should Care, New York City Employers Prepare for AI Bias Law [VIDEO], Administration's WOTUS Rule Muddies Jurisdictional Waters. "We have the votes," a source close to negotiations confirmed Monday. The prices of marijuana companies shot up in the stock market on March 24, likely due to the buzz around a potential vote for legalization. But it went nowhere in the then-Republican majority Senate. It would also establish a process to expunge convictions and review sentences for past federal cannabis convictions. Cover Photo by manish panghal on Unsplash. This week, a closer look at legislation that could have national implications. On April 1, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to legalize marijuana. Not surprisingly, the House vote fell largely along party lines. Baldwin also released an overview of what the Senate proposal will do. legal industry generated $25 billion in sales last year. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed. Arkansas LEARNS passes Senate Education Committee. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything Bill Maher: I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level, Trumps polling strength causes heartburn for Senate GOP. The survey found that 83 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of independents and 50 percent of Republicans back legalization. From year five and beyond the tax would be 8% of the Treasury Departments established prevailing sales price. Federally Recognized Holidays, Employer Considerations for DOLs New AEWR Rule. He says the passing of Senate Bill 4 is a win, but he's sad it took so long. Following narrow victories by Georgia's two Democratic candidates for the Senate during this week's runoff election, Democrats are expected to take control of the U.S. Senate in 2021, opening up the MORE Act and other federal cannabis bills to a vote. This would only be the second time in history that a federal marijuana legalization bill would reach the House floor for voting. He followed up this statement with "Its just very encouraging that there is an appetite not just to decriminalize at the federal level, but really do restorative justice things that are very important.". Recently, the House once again moved forward with proposed cannabis legislation. Oscar Renautt did his part by starting the Unity Fund, an organization that helps put gay and trans people in office. The Vermont Senate is preparing to vote on a major climate bill targeting home heating emissions, but Gov. An earlier version of this story included an incorrect identification. "So, for us, it is a huge accomplishment.". Only three Republicans, Brian Mast, Tom McClintock, and Matt Gaetz, supported the measure. Attorney Advertising Notice: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The tax will be imposed on the retail sales of cannabis and proceeds from the tax will to go to a newly established Opportunity Trust Fund. All 50 Democratic senators have said theyd support legislation to codify same-sex marriage. Most young men are single. Words With Friends, Part 1: Insurance Requirements and Contracts, Legislator Proposes To Expand CFL To Encompass "Commercial CERCLA PFAS Scope May Broaden To Many More PFAS, AI Avatar App is the Latest Target of BIPA Class Action Litigation. Cannabis legalization is sweeping over North America - 15 states plus Washington, D.C., have all legalized recreational marijuana over the last few years, and full legalization came to Canada in. Statement in compliance with Texas Rules of Professional Conduct. See our previous alert here . Not every Senate Democrat supports legalization and if the three House Republicans who voted for MORE are a barometer, it wont get much support from the GOP. Senator Chuck Schumer is expected to introduce that bill in the coming weeks. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Criminal Referrals and OSHA Violations, Part III: Industry Standards Oregon House Revenue Committee Set to Hear More About Pro-Taxpayer Buying or Selling a Small Business Government Contractor? The Basics of Californias Outside Salesperson Exemption. The rare show of support from the Biden administration, which has largely remained silent on cannabis issues and even dismissed staffers over their previous marijuana use, could give the banking bill a timely boost. "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. Eight Iowa state GOP lawmakers propose constitutional amendment to ban same-sex Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Senator Cory Booker said "Right now were looking at doing the one that weve been working on for a long time" referring to the CAO act. 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