NORML Calls for MORE Act Support to Transform Federal Cannabis Policy

LOS ANGELES – On August 29, a group of Democratic lawmakers reintroduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 5068). The legislation seeks to remove (deschedule) Cannabis entirely from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), effectively ending most federal criminal penalties and granting states the freedom to regulate Cannabis without federal interference.

The MORE Act, which previously passed the House in 2020 and 2022 but stalled in the Senate, represents a comprehensive approach to Cannabis reform. Beyond decriminalization, it addresses the lasting impacts of prohibition through measures like automatic expungement of low-level federal Cannabis convictions and incentives for states to follow suit.

The bill also promotes equity by creating pathways for communities disproportionately harmed by past drug policies to participate in the growing Cannabis industry. Additional provisions include allowing veterans to receive medical Cannabis recommendations from VA doctors in states with legal programs and establishing a 5% federal Cannabis sales tax to fund community reinvestment grants for areas affected by over-policing. The bill is currently under consideration by the House Judiciary Committee.

Public support for Cannabis legalization remains robust. A January-February 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that 87% of Americans favor legalizing Cannabis for medical or recreational use, with 54% supporting both and 33% backing medical use only.

The legal Cannabis market, projected to reach $45 billion in sales by the end of 2025, underscores the economic potential of reform. However, the path forward is uncertain in a Republican-controlled House, where leadership has historically resisted comprehensive Cannabis legislation. The Justice Department’s ongoing review to reschedule Cannabis to Schedule III, initiated in May 2024, adds another layer of complexity, as it would ease research and tax restrictions but stop short of full decriminalization.

The MORE Act’s reintroduction comes amid broader federal discussions on Cannabis policy. Bipartisan efforts, such as the SAFER Banking Act, which would provide banking access to Cannabis businesses, have seen progress but remain unresolved. With 24 states having legalized recreational Cannabis and 38 allowing medical use, the gap between state and federal policies continues to fuel calls for change.

In California alone, the black market accounts for about 60% of Cannabis sales, due to factors like taxes and prices that make legal products more expensive. Industry analysts suggest that the passage of H.R. 5068 could streamline regulations, boost legitimate markets, and substantially reduce the illicit Cannabis market, which currently steals a significant share of total sales.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is calling on the American Cannabis community to seize this moment and advocate for the MORE Act.

Your voice matters. Please follow the link to ACT now on dismantling decades of inequitable Cannabis policies, paving the way for the MORE just and equitable industry YOU want to see tomorrow.