Norton Applauds House Passage of Bill Decriminalizing Marijuana

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) applauded House passage last week of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE Act). Norton is an original cosponsor of the MORE Act. The bill decriminalizes marijuana at the federal level, expunges marijuana convictions, and invests in local communities. It imposes a tax on marijuana sales and opens the door to commercialization of recreational marijuana in D.C.

“Today, when a global pandemic is harming the District’s economy, forcing the closure of many businesses and even threatening government services, the MORE Act will allow vital tax revenue from an activity that’s already common in D.C. and throughout the country,” Norton said. “D.C. legalized recreational marijuana in 2014. Republicans tried to block legalization with an appropriations rider. I found a flaw in the rider that allowed legalization to proceed, but the rider blocked commercialization and has remained in place since then. The MORE Act increases our chances of removing the anti-home-rule rider going forward and permitting commercialization. Fifteen states have legalized recreational marijuana, and all have or will commercialize it.”

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