Congresswoman Luria Votes for Historic Marijuana Reform Legislation

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Luria voted for historic marijuana reform legislation, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 3884). This comprehensive and bipartisan marijuana reform package decriminalizes marijuana on the federal level, which will permit states to more effectively regulate marijuana.

“I am pleased to join my colleagues in the House in voting to pass the MORE Act to bring much-overdue changes to our outdated marijuana laws and regulations,” said Virginia Democrat Elaine Luria. “This historic reform package would take steps to begin repairing the disproportionate harm these archaic laws have caused on communities of color and allow states to regulate marijuana in a responsible and safe manner.”

Virginia NORML applauds Representative Luria for her leadership on
cannabis policy and on today historic vote. She has been an
outspoken champion for ending the failed policy of prohibition and undoing
the damages of marijuana criminalization,& said Jenn Michelle
Pedini, Executive Director of Virginia NORML. & As Virginia&
medical cannabis industry continues to grow and the state considers
adult-use in 2021, eliminating the existing conflict between Virginia and
federal laws and ensuring the Commonwealth & authority to legally
regulate cannabis is more important than ever.

The MORE Act would update current marijuana regulations and correct
historic injustices by:

  Decriminalizing marijuana at the federal level by removing it from the
Controlled Substances Act. This would apply retroactively to prior and
pending convictions and allow states to set their own policies without
the threat of federal interference; Requiring states to expunge prior
convictions, allowing prior offenders to request expungement, and
requiring courts to conduct re-sentencing hearings for those still under
supervision; Creating opportunities for local and minority entrepreneurs
by assessing a 5% sales tax on marijuana products to create an
Opportunity Trust Fund, which includes:  The Community Reinvestment
Grant Program, which provides services to individuals most adversely
impacted by the War on Drugs, including job training, legal aid,
literacy programs, youth recreation, and substance use treatment; The
Cannabis Opportunity Grant Program, which would offer loans to small
businesses in the marijuana industry that are owned by socially and
economically disadvantaged individuals; and, The Equitable Licensing
Grant Program, which will fund programs that minimize barriers to
marijuana licensing and employment for those harmed by the War on Drugs.
   Opening Small Business Administration funding for marijuana-related
businesses and service-providers; Implementing anti-discrimination
protections for marijuana use or possession and prior convictions for
marijuana offenses. Including:  Prohibiting the denial of federal
benefits based on marijuana use or possession, or prior marijuana
offense convictions.    Congresswoman Elaine Luria is a strong advocate
of sensible and compassionate marijuana policies. In September of last
year, Congresswoman Luria testified before the House Judiciary Committee
on behalf of a young girl in Hampton who relies on medical marijuana to
provide compassionate pain relief due to her rare form of brain cancer.
Congresswoman Luria is also a member of the House’s bipartisan
Cannabis Caucus.

Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia 2nd
ongressional District. She serves on the House Armed Services
Committee, where she is the Vice Chair of the Seapower and Projection
Forces Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Veterans
Affairs, where she serves as Chair of the Disability Assistance and
Memorial Affairs Subcommittee