House Democrats have once again introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, in an effort to bring comprehensive federal cannabis reform to life. This legislation is far more than incremental policy changes—it offers a bold vision for justice, equity, and economic opportunity that stands in contrast to the Trump administration’s review to reschedule approach.
The MORE Act doesn’t merely tinker around the edges of cannabis policy. It transforms how America approaches cannabis by removing it entirely from the Controlled Substances Act. This complete descheduling approach addresses decades of the failed ‘War on Drugs’ prohibition policies while creating opportunities for fairness and economic growth.
What the MORE Act Aims to Accomplish
Led by Representative Jerry Nadler of New York, along with Cannabis Caucus co-chairs Representatives Dina Titus and Ilhan Omar, this legislation seeks to correct historical injustices while building a framework for equitable cannabis policy.
The Act’s primary objective centers on complete federal decriminalization through descheduling. Unlike rescheduling proposals that would simply move cannabis from Schedule I to a lower schedule within the Controlled Substances Act, the MORE Act removes marijuana entirely from federal controlled substance classifications. This distinction matters greatly for businesses, consumers, and communities affected by prohibition.
The legislation addresses the human cost of cannabis prohibition. According to data cited in the Act, cannabis prohibition enforcement costs taxpayers approximately $3.6 billion annually while resulting in over 200,000 arrests each year.
These arrests disproportionately impact communities of color, with Black men receiving drug sentences 13.1% longer than White men, and Latinos facing nearly 6.5 times higher likelihood of receiving federal sentences for cannabis possession compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
Beyond criminal justice reform, the MORE Act tackles economic inequality within the cannabis industry. Current federal restrictions limit access to capital and banking services for cannabis businesses, creating barriers that disproportionately affect minority entrepreneurs. The legislation notes that fewer than one-fifth of cannabis business owners identify as minorities, with only approximately 4% identifying as Black.
Comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform
The MORE Act’s approach to criminal justice reform extends far beyond simple decriminalization. The legislation mandates automatic expungement of federal cannabis convictions, requiring each federal district to conduct reviews and expunge non-violent federal cannabis offenses. This process applies retroactively to all existing convictions and adjudications of juvenile delinquency.
For individuals currently serving sentences for non-violent federal cannabis offenses, the Act requires courts to conduct sentencing review hearings. This provision offers immediate relief to thousands of Americans still suffering under outdated cannabis laws. The legislation ensures that expunged records are sealed completely, allowing individuals to treat past marijuana convictions as if they never occurred.
The Act also eliminates collateral consequences that have long haunted individuals with cannabis convictions. Federal agencies cannot deny security clearances based on past or present cannabis use, and no person may be denied federal public benefits based on cannabis use, possession, or conviction history. Immigration consequences disappear entirely, as the Act prevents denial of immigration benefits based on cannabis-related activities.
Economic Justice and Community Reinvestment
The MORE Act transforms cannabis taxation from a punitive mechanism into a tool for justice. The legislation establishes a progressive federal excise tax starting at 5% for the first two years, increasing to 8% by the fifth year. This tax revenue flows into an Opportunity Trust Fund designed to repair communities most harmed by prohibition.
The Fund supports three major grant programs addressing historical inequities. The Community Reinvestment Grant Program provides funding for job training, reentry services, legal aid, literacy programs, youth programs, and health education specifically targeting individuals adversely impacted by the War on Drugs.
The Cannabis Restorative Opportunity Program offers loans and technical assistance to small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
And, the Equitable Licensing Grant Program helps states and localities develop licensing programs that minimize barriers for those most affected by prohibition.
The Act also requires licensing programs to waive application fees for low-income first-time applicants, prohibit license denials based on prior cannabis offenses, and establish licensing boards that reflect community demographics.
Banking and Business Access
One of the MORE Act’s most significant advantages over rescheduling lies in its treatment of banking and business services. Complete descheduling eliminates the legal ambiguity that has prevented financial institutions from serving cannabis businesses.
Under current law, banks face potential federal prosecution for providing services to state-legal cannabis operations, even in states with comprehensive regulatory frameworks.
The Act explicitly opens Small Business Administration funding to legitimate cannabis businesses and service providers. Small business development centers, women’s business centers, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers cannot decline services solely because a business operates in the marijuana industry.
This access to traditional business support services levels the playing field for cannabis entrepreneurs.
The legislation also eliminates Internal Revenue Code Section 280E penalties that currently prevent cannabis businesses from deducting ordinary business expenses. This tax relief could save cannabis companies millions of dollars annually while enabling more competitive pricing for consumers.
Why Descheduling Beats Rescheduling
The Trump administration’s consideration of rescheduling cannabis is an inadequate approach to reform. Rescheduling would move cannabis to a lower category under the Controlled Substances Act, such as from Schedule I to Schedule III. While this could ease research and reduce some penalties, it fails to address the core issues of cannabis prohibition.
Federal criminalization of non-medical use would continue, exposing millions to prosecution for activities legal in their states. Conflicting state and federal laws would persist, creating uncertainty for businesses, consumers, and law enforcement. Banking restrictions would likely remain since financial institutions would still face federal compliance challenges.
Rescheduling would also favor large corporations. Smaller businesses would struggle to meet the strict FDA regulations, potentially pushing them out of the market.
Most critically, rescheduling fails to address the social justice imperative that should drive cannabis reform. It offers no pathway for expunging past convictions, no mechanism for community reinvestment, and no guarantee of equitable industry participation. Rescheduling represents reform for reform’s sake rather than reform for justice’s sake.
The MORE Act’s descheduling approach eliminates these limitations entirely. By removing cannabis from controlled substance classifications altogether, the legislation creates space for comprehensive state-level regulation while eliminating federal interference. States retain full authority to prohibit cannabis if they choose, but they also gain freedom to develop innovative regulatory approaches without federal constraint.
Addressing Implementation Concerns
Critics often raise implementation concerns about descheduling cannabis, arguing that gradual reform through rescheduling offers a more politically feasible path. However, this perspective ignores the urgent need for justice-centered cannabis policy and the practical advantages of clear federal policy.
The MORE Act includes specific implementation timelines and requirements that address potential concerns. If passed, the Attorney General must finalize rulemaking removing cannabis from controlled substance schedules within 180 days of enactment. The legislation’s retroactive provisions ensure immediate relief for individuals suffering under current laws.
The Act also requires data collection on the industry demographics through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, makeing sure their is accountability for equity goals. This approach enables ongoing assessment and adjustment of policies to ensure they achieve intended outcomes.
Building Momentum for Real Reform
The reintroduction of the MORE Act demonstrates sustained congressional commitment to comprehensive cannabis reform. While the legislation faces challenges in a closely divided Congress, public opinion strongly supports federal cannabis legalization. More than two-thirds of Americans favor legalization according to polling, creating political pressure for meaningful action.
The Act’s focus on justice and equity resonates with voters across party lines who recognize the failures of prohibition. Stories like that of Parker Coleman, sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for cannabis distribution while the same plant generates billions in legal revenue, illustrate the urgent moral imperative for total cannabis reform.
Cannabis industry leaders and advocacy organizations have consistently endorsed the MORE Act’s approach over incremental alternatives. The Drug Policy Alliance notes that the MORE Act represents the only legislation currently introduced in Congress that would fully decriminalize cannabis at the federal level nationwide.
Sensible Path Forward
The marijuana reform debate has evolved beyond questions of whether change will come to questions of what form that change will take. The MORE Act offers a vision of marijuana policy rooted in justice, equity, and human dignity.
It acknowledges that prohibition has failed not just as drug policy but as social policy, causing immeasurable harm to individuals, families, and communities.
Rescheduling is a technocratic approach that prioritizes convenience over moral clarity. While moving away from Schedule I might seem like progress, half-measures often create an illusion of reform while keeping systemic inequities in place.
The cannabis community must reject inadequate solutions. The MORE Act offers a comprehensive plan for cannabis policy focused on justice, equity, and human welfare over convenience or profits.
America faces a critical choice on cannabis policy. We can choose incremental rescheduling, which preserves prohibition’s harms and offers limited benefits. Or we can embrace the MORE Act’s full descheduling approach, prioritizing justice, equity, and dignity.
This decision reflects more than policy—it reveals our values and commitment to correcting historical injustices. The MORE Act is the bold, justice-driven reform America needs.
