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This week, the House of Representatives is expected to pass a bill that would decriminalize marijuana use on a federal level.
Currently, 37 states have legalized cannabis for medical use, and 18 have legalized it for both medical and recreational use.
The bill would remove marijuana from the list of scheduled substances and remove any criminal penalties for those who make, distribute or possess marijuana.
The MORE Act would require courts to clear prior marijuana-related convictions from criminal records and resentence those currently completing sentencing for such convictions.
The proposed law wouldn’t stop there—it would also generate funds to help support communities in need.
California, one of the first states to legalize marijuana use recreationally, generated more than $1 billion in marijuana tax revenue just two years after statewide legalization.
Supporters of marijuana legalization argue that its criminalization is racially biased, costly for the justice system and goes against public sentiment.
Even if all Senate Democrats voted in favor of the bill, it would still need 10 GOP votes for it to pass and be signed into law.
Cannabis has been a scapegoat of racism since the 20th century when Mexican immigrants brought the tradition of smoking marijuana to the States.
Another marijuana-related law, the SAFE Banking Act, would allow cannabis-related businesses to obtain bank accounts, something they’re currently barred from doing under federal law.
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