According to a bill filed in the US House of Representatives, marijuana could be on it’s way to being federally legal. If passed, the bill promises to remove marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and it would eliminate criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. But the big question is whether or not it can pass through Republican-held Congress.
Currently, there are over 20 states where marijuana is fully legal, including states like Colorado, Alabama, and Washington. Dispensaries are plentiful in these states and many are taxed at a very high rate. The state of Washington, for example, has a tax rate of 37% on marijuana sales! The money collected goes to the state and thus far, the state of Washington has made over $700 million dollars since voters legalized cannabis. That’s no chump change.
If the MORE (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement) Act were to pass, much more would happen than marijuana simply being legal. There would be a 5% tax on all cannabis products and all that money would be placed into a trust fund. The trust fund would help support programs and services in communities hardest hit by the War on Drugs. All dispensaries would be legitimate small businesses and would therefore be afforded the opportunity to take out loans. But best of all, the MORE Act would establish a process to expunge prior marijuana convictions.
The US would be among the growing list of countries to legalize marijuana, should Congress approve. Places like Canada, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands all allow recreational smoking, but you should always check with local laws prior to lighting up in a different country. And some might say that legalizing marijuana is a slippery slope to drug-fueled chaos, but that seems highly unlikely.
With the election of Joe Biden to the presidency, perhaps things are finally shifting back towards progress in the US? With the MORE Act, both the House of Representatives and Congress have an opportunity to show a united front. We can only hope the Republicans can see how much good legalizing marijuana would do for the country. But we want to know what you think — is marijuana legal where you live and do believe that is the right choice? Let us know in the comments! And as always, from all of us a Trill!: wash your hands, don’t forget your mask, and find time to relax.
