Rep Lieu Votes in Favor of Federal Cannabis Decriminalization

Press Release

Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act. If enacted, this bipartisan bill will decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, while enabling states to set their own regulatory policies without threat of federal intervention. It takes long overdue steps to address the devastating injustices of the criminalization of cannabis and the vastly disproportionate impact it has had on communities of color. It imposes taxes on the cannabis industry and uses the revenues to fund key services targeted to those adversely impacted by federal criminalization of cannabis -- with people of color almost four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts, despite equal rates of use across populations.

"I'm pleased that the House has once again passed this important legislation, which I cosponsored and fervently supported in committee," Rep. Lieu said. "Enforcing cannabis laws has wasted significant law enforcement resources and taxpayer money, and has done little to mitigate more serious crimes occurring in our community. Historically, cannabis enforcement efforts have disproportionately targeted people of color and we're overdue to address those injustices. Multiple states have created a thriving and highly regulated cannabis industry, and it is time the federal government stepped out of the way of other states wishing to do the same. I hope the Senate will join the two-thirds of Americans who support legalizing cannabis and bring our bill up for a vote."

The MORE act is supported by more than 130 organizations, including such organizations as the NAACP, National Urban League, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, SEIU, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Drug Policy Alliance, ACLU, Move On, The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Clergy for a New Drug Policy, Doctors for Cannabis Regulation, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, Human Rights Watch, Immigrant Defense Project, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, JustLeadershipUSA, National Association of Social Workers, National Employment Law Project, National Organization for Women, Moms Rising, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, and Veterans Cannabis Coalition.

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