Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act)

H.R.3617

• Removes marijuana from the list of Controlled Substances and ends the criminalization of marijuana 
• Establishes several key areas of policy that emphasize social equity and minority involvement in the emerging cannabis industry, including a retail tax to help impacted groups 
• Stops short of a comprehensive regulatory bill, but sets important precedent

For a closer look at many of the key provisions in MORE, click here

• Introduced on May 28, 2021 by Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY-10], it went through the committee process, and passed the House on April 1, 2022. 
• The bill is now in the Senate after passing the House, but has not yet been assigned to a committee. 
• Instead, many of the key provisions in the MORE Act have been taken and incorporated into another bill expected to be introduced separately in the Senate, the forthcoming CAO Act (below). 
• The bill has passed the House before: it was introduced in the prior Congress and passed in late 2020. 

States Reform Act (SRA)

H.R.5977

• The SRA removes marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and ends the criminalization of marijuana. 
• It then sets up a regulatory system largely led by states. 
• In areas in which the federal government does regulate some aspects directly, it sets  national standards, and otherwise cannabis is treated like alcohol where possible. 
• Federal taxes would be kept low. 

For a closer look at many of the key provisions in SRA, click here

• Introduced on November 15, 2021, by Rep. Nancy Mace [R-SC-1] and was referred to the Subcommittee on Health on January 6, 2022.  
• The politics are not currently ideal. As a Republican- sponsored bill, the SRA might not get much support in a Democratically-controlled House as others, especially when they already passed the MORE Act in the same chamber earlier this year. 
• But even in a Dem-controlled chamber, there may yet be interest in Rep. Mace’s proposal in a hearing, as some news reports suggest. And the equation changes if the House shifts from majority Democrat to majority Republican after the midterm elections.  

Cannabis Administration and Opportunity (CAO Act)

(Version published by Politico)

• The CAO Act removes marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and ends the criminalization of marijuana
• This approach would rely heavily on federal regulators, including the FDA (rather than states)
• The proposal includes hefty taxes, effectively doubling the current taxes that apply to most sales at the register

For the sponsor’s summary of the proposal and questions posed, click here. 

MPP’s summary is available here.

• The CAO Act was introduced on July 21, 2022 by Sens. Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden, and Cory Booker. 
• A public hearing was held before the  Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism on July 26, 2022.

Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Businesses, and Medical Professionals Act

H.R.3105

• Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Businesses, and Medical Professionals Act removes marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties. 
• Rep. Joyce crafted a unique framework, where marijuana could only be shipped between legalization states. 
• This pared down measure identifies many of the basic features of legalization that could be on the table for Republicans. 
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the Common Sense Cannabis Reform for Veterans, Small Businesses, and Medical Professionals Act, click here 

• Introduced May 13, 2021 by Rep. David Joyce [R-OH-14] and sponsored by Rep. Don Young [R-AK], it was Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, but has not yet gotten a hearing. 
• Similar to the MORE Act in many ways, this bill could be seen as initiating important conversations and getting ideas out.

SAFE (Secure and Fair Enforcement)  Banking Act 

H.R.1996

• It is currently illegal, technically, for banks to serve marijuana businesses. There are exceptions but they are expensive for marijuana businesses. SAFE would prohibit federal banking regulators from penalizing institutions for providing banking services to cannabis-related businesses, with the hope that more banks will serve these businesses, and that services will get more affordable.
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the SAFE Banking Act, click here 

• Introduced on March 18, 2021 by Rep. Ed Perlmutter [D-CO-17], SAFE Banking has passed the House in some form 6 times already. Once again, it is before the Senate, which has not taken it up for a committee assignment. 
• Meanwhile, provisions in SAFE Banking now regularly appear in other pieces of legislation moving through Congress, but so far they keep getting removed before the measures can be made law. 

HOPE (Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement) Act

H.R.6129

• Provides a pathway for states to receive federal grants to use in assisting the expungement process of state criminal convictions related to cannabis offenses.
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the HOPE Act, click here  

• Introduced on December 2, 2021 by Rep. David Joyce [R-OH-14] and sponsored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [D-NY-14], it has not yet been assigned to a committee. 
• How much funding is available, and where it comes from in the federal budget, are not answered in the bill. 
• The key provisions of this bill are part of a broader discussion around passage of SAFE Banking. Many believe it is possible this bill would start to advance as part of a package agreement, or provisions in this measure could appear in an amended SAFE Banking bill during the negotiation process.

Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act

H.R.7513

• The PREPARE Act would establish a Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis to consider and examine the key areas related to regulating cannabis and their impacts on government.
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the PREPARE Act, click here 

• Introduced on April 14, 2022 by Rep. Dave Joyce [R-OH-14] and referred to the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research on May 5, 2022. 
• So-called “study bills” can keep the conversation going in D.C. and introduce ideas to lawmakers, but they can also take momentum away from other reform bills when voters have clearly decided. 

Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act

S.253

• The Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion Act encourages scientific and medical research on marijuana and its compounds.
• Would add more facilities similar to the University of Mississippi, which has a contract with the federal government to cultivate marijuana for research
• However, the measure is very restrictive. It would exclude cannabis commonly sold to adults or medical cannabis patients, and would be limited to specifically-qualified researchers looking for specific research topics. In fact many believe this measure takes a step backwards from research today by limiting the scope of research. 
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the Cannabidol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act, click here 

• Introduced on February 4, 2021 by Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D-CA], it went through the committee process and passed the Senate on March 24, 2022. 
• The bill is now in the House after passing the Senate and is being reconciled with H.R.5657, a research bill that passed the House. 
• To be frank, we hope the final product will look a lot more like H.R.5657 than this bill did when it passed the Senate. 

Medical Marijuana Research Act

H.R.5657

• The Medical Marijuana Research Act would remove barriers for researchers seeking to study cannabis for medical purposes by amending the Controlled Substance Act.
• Researchers would have access to marijuana commonly sold in stores (rather than the marijuana provided by the University of Mississippi through their contract with the federal government). 
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the Medical Marijuana Research Act, click here 

• Introduced on October 21, 2021 by Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR-3] and passed the House on April 4, 2022.
• The bill was received in the Senate and will be reconciled with S.253. While both are research bills, there are major differences. This is the better of the measures and we hope will have a big influence on the outcome. 

Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act

H.R.2588

• This Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act would provide doctors that work in the VA the ability to make medical marijuana recommendations consistent with state program laws. 
• Would also direct the VA to research the effects of medical marijuana on veterans in pain.
• The bill would also provide clear protections for veterans who may use, possess, or transport medical marijuana.  
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the the Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act, click here 

• Introduced on April 15, 2021 by Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA-13] and referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on October 19, 2021. 

Veterans Equal Access Act

H.R.8197

• This bill would clearly provide doctors in the VA the ability to make medical marijuana recommendations to veterans consistent with state program laws.
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the Veterans Equal Access Act, click here 

• Introduced on June 23, 2022 by Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR-3] and was referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 

Capital Lending and Investment for Marijuana Businesses (CLIMB) Act

H.R.8200

• Today, marijuana businesses cannot “go public” and have stock issued or traded on stock exchanges 
• This bill would enable cannabis businesses to be listed on major stock exchanges like Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
• For a closer look at many of the key provisions in the CLIMB Act, click here

• Introduced on June 23, 2022 by Rep. Troy Carter [D-LA-2] and cosponsored by Guy Reschenthaler [R-PA-14] and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.