The lame duck House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3884, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, a bill sponsored by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), which would decriminalize marijuana use under federal law. In addition to decriminalization, the MORE Act would establish a process to expunge convictions for marijuana-related offenses and impose a federal tax on marijuana products sold at the state level.
Approval came on December 4, 2020, by a roll call vote of 228 yeas to 164 nays, with five Republicans joining all but six Democrats in voting yes. Although House approval of the bill at this point in time is more symbolic than substantive – there is no chance the Senate will consider the bill before Congress adjourns in the next couple of weeks – it is the latest sign that support for legalization at the federal level continues to grow.
As written, the MORE Act would not have a direct impact on private employment. That said, if it were to eventually become law, it has clear implications for drug-free workplace policies premised in part on the fact that marijuana use is currently prohibited under federal law.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC) can read more here.