What is the MORE Act?

By NA · January 15, 2021
What is the MORE Act?

How the MORE Act will Alter the Cannabis Industry Forever


The cannabis industry has come quite a long way. From being available in a variety of pharmaceuticals to being virtually prohibited across the globe over the course of a century, cannabis has seen it all. Today, publications such as Forbes project the cannabis industry to exceed a couple hundred of billion dollars by 2030. Additionally, the passing of a recent bill in the United States House of Representatives can see the cannabis industry boom within the next 5 years. The House voted to pass the MORE act, which, in theory, would end the prohibition of cannabis that has been in effect in the United States for nearly a century.

What is the MORE Act

The MORE Act has been trying to get enough momentum in Congress to be heard on the house floor for a few years. Also known as H.R. 3884, the MORE Act was originally drafted and sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York. The MORE Act would ultimately find bipartisan support of a whopping 120 cosponsors. Summarily, the MORE Act can decriminalize cannabis on a federal level once and for all. Additionally, the act would finally remove cannabis from the list of scheduled I controlled substances. This would allow cannabis to be studied on a federal level. The MORE act will also force a tax on cannabis at a 5% rate federally. The tax rate is likely to increase to 9% if the bill can make it through the Senate.

Democrats who opposed the MORE Act

Just like any bill that goes through the US House of Reps, there will be a moderate amount of pushback towards what is drafted. The interesting piece is the amount of Dems who rejected the MORE Act altogether. These Representatives include:


  • Cheri Bustos (IL)

  • Daniel Lipinski (IL)

  • Collin Peterson (MN)

  • Chris Pappas (NH)

  • Connor Lamb (PA)

  • Henry Cuellar (TX)

Bipartisan support of the MORE Act

There was an amazing amount of support for the MORE Act by Republicans. The initial cosponsors of the MORE Act were not expecting the following Reps to support the bill. However, these civic leaders showed support for the bill:


  • Matt Gaetz (FL)

  • Brian Mast (FL)

  • Tom McClintock (CA)

  • Denver Riggleman (VA)

  • Don Young (AK)

Next steps for the MORE Act

Before any bill can become law, it must first be introduced and passed in the House of Representatives. Once enacted, it will be sent to be heard in the United States Senate. Political theorists maintain the belief that this is where the MORE Act will fall. Additionally, they believe the crushing blow to rid lawmakers of the MORE Act will come from the hands of the Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell. A shift of party control in favor of the Dems in the Senate may be the only variable that can save the Senate's MORE Act. The US Senate has stalled on voting on the MORE Act for the time being.

The integral article within the MORE Act

The MORE Act has an abundance of pro-cannabis clauses outside of its removal as its schedule I substance. According to the summary of H.R. 3884, the MORE Act would "establishes a process to expunge convictions and conduct sentencing review hearings related to federal cannabis offenses, and directs the Government Accountability Office to study the societal impact of cannabis legalization." Furthermore, the passing of the MORE Act would "establishes a trust fund to support various programs and services for individuals and businesses in communities impacted by the war on drugs." The MORE Act may turn out to be one of the greatest apologies given by a government's failed attempt at declaring a war on drugs.