WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 23, Sen. Kamala D. Harris and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, one of the most comprehensive marijuana reform bills ever introduced in the U.S. Congress.
“Times have changed — marijuana should not be a crime,” said Sen. Harris.
“We need to start regulating marijuana, and expunge marijuana convictions from the records of millions of Americans so they can get on with their lives. As marijuana becomes legal across the country, we must make sure everyone — especially communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs — has a real opportunity to participate in this growing industry. I am thrilled to work with Chairman Nadler on this timely and important step toward racial and economic justice.”
The MORE Act aims to correct the historical injustices of failed drug policies that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and low-income communities by requiring resentencing and expungement of prior convictions.
This will create new opportunities for individuals as they work to advance their careers, education, and overall quality of life. Immigrants will also benefit from the MORE Act, as they will no longer be subject to deportation or citizenship denial based on even a minor marijuana offense.
The MORE Act also ensures that all benefits in the law are available to juvenile offenders.