The MORE Act of 2021: Dismantling the Drug War with Federal Marijuana Decriminalization

Last Updated: July 6, 2021

A majority of states––38 states and Washington, DC––have decriminalized marijuana or authorized its medicinal use despite federal prohibition. State ballot initiatives to legalize and decriminalize marijuana across the country have successfully passed with bipartisan support. Opinion polls show strong support for medical and recreational use of marijuana nationwide.

Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands of people are still arrested and jailed for marijuana possession every year as a result of current federal marijuana policy. Black and brown people are far more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people as a result of racist drug stereotypes and systemic racism in the criminal legal system.

Congress is once again considering legislation that could move the country closer to ending the racist drug war. In the 116th Congress, the House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act with bipartisan support (228-164), but the Senate did not take up the bill before the end of the Congress. On May 28, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (NY-10) and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) introduced the MORE Act of 2021 (H.R.3617). Senate Democrats are planning to build off the MORE Act later this year.