The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation in a bipartisan vote of 24 to 10, sending it for a floor vote. The MORE Act, introduced in July by House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), would decriminalize cannabis federally by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act. The legislation requires federal courts to expunge prior cannabis-related convictions, and would impose a minor excise tax on the legal cannabis industry to fund the expungement of these records, as well as the following three grant programs, as outlined in the bill: The Community Reinvestment Grant Program: Provides services to the individuals most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, including job training, re-entry services, legal aid, literacy programs, youth recreation, mentoring and substance use treatment. The Cannabis Opportunity Grant Program: Provides funds for loans to assist small businesses in the marijuana industry that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The Equitable Licensing Grant Program: Provides funds for programs that minimize barriers to marijuana licensing and employment for the individuals most adversely impacted by the War on Drugs.
Source: cannabisbusinesstimes.com
Lightbulb Moment: Although GRAS status will not be awarded to Cannabis, this would help generate more funding for longitudinal clinical health research. It will also serve to streamline the patchwork of state by state legislation we are currently experiencing.
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