Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) is making her support known for federal cannabis reform. This week her office issued a news release highlighting her role in leading 10 of her bi-partisan colleagues to sign a letter to Congressional leadership calling for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act to be passed by Congress. The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D), House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R).
The MORE Act withdraws marijuana from Schedule 1 under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana, among its additional provisions.
“The MORE Act removes barriers for families to seek out economic opportunity and provides tools to help those who have been harmed by the system to achieve these goals,” the letter states. “This is the will of the American people, and it is time we act on it.”
As Strickland is quoted in her news release, “To create a society that is just and secure, we must restore the lives of those convicted on marijuana-related charges. It is time for Congress to decriminalize marijuana by passing the bipartisan MORE Act to promote racial justice, spur economic growth, and protect retailers and their employees.”
The Act was first introduced in 2019 and passed the U.S. House last year but then died in a Senate committee. Now that Congressman Jerold Nadler (D-NY) has reintroduced the Act in the House this year, Strickland is part of an effort to get it through the House and Senate and to President Biden for his signature into law.
The Weekly Weedly asked Strickland for her opinion on what held the Senate back from passing the legislation last year. Is it because too many senators don’t think this is an important issue or is it due to prejudices against cannabis – or both?
“One of the things I’ve learned is that every person who serves comes from a different place geographically and has different perspectives on things,” she said. “I can’t tell you I’ve spoken to any senators who are reticent about supporting this, but I do believe in bringing this back on a regular basis and backing it up with facts.”
The facts are telling: In 2021, a Pew Research Center study showed that 91% of U.S. adults say either that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use (60%) or that it should be legal for medical use only (31%).
“Within the general public, it’s there,” Strickland said. “We just think it’s time. As more people are manufacturing it and retailing it, we want to make sure we’re protecting folks.”
Strickland cited several reasons for why she’s speaking out. The disproportionate number of Black and Brown Americans arrested and convicted for marijuana offenses is perhaps her top concern. Federal marijuana prohibition impacts the lives of Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, Native American/Alaska Native, and Multiracial individuals as well. Criminal records can result in ruined lives and sets up often insurmountable barriers to everything from employment and housing to access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“The criminal justice aspect is so important here,” Strickland said. “We want to make sure that people who have been charged or are serving time for offenses get those records expunged. We want to make sure we’re protecting people and they’re not being discriminated against.”
The MORE Act authorizes a 5% sales tax on marijuana and marijuana products to go toward an Opportunity Trust Fund. This fund will support three grant programs that invest in those who have been adversely affected by the War on Drugs or who are economically disadvantaged business owners in the industry.
Crimes against cannabis retailers also has Strickland troubled. Local media reported last month that there have been dozens of cannabis shop robberies in Western Washington already this year. This is due to the fact that cannabis businesses must operate on a cash basis since marijuana in all its forms is federally illegal so no banks can work with cannabusinesses.
“This really made me start thinking about what we should do at the federal level to be of assistance and have some teeth and some laws that are going to treat this fairly,” Strickland said.
“We want to make sure that people who are manufacturing and retailing it are protected and have access and safe and legitimate banking and also being very mindful of the safety of the employers and employees. This is as much about worker protection too.”
The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act was written to prohibit federal banking regulators from penalizing a depository institution for providing banking services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses, but it has yet to advance through congress. However, the America COMPETES Act, which passed the House on Feb. 4, contains an amendment that addresses the SAFE Banking Act and this amendment also passed. Strickland voted yes on both.
Many in the cannabis industry – insiders and consumers alike – have lately been expressing frustration that President Biden has yet to address cannabis from his place in office, as he did on the campaign trail, but Strickland advises patience and for voters to make their voices heard on the matter.
“He cannot unilaterally decide to do something through his executive powers,” she said. “The promise he made on the campaign trail was that he would work with Congress, and we have to do our job first to enable him to do his job.”
While Strickland represents Washington State’s 10th district, she encourages voters to, of course, contact our state’s congressional delegation but to also reach out and contact other legislators as well. “It is perfectly acceptable to reach out to them and make the case for public safety, fairness and equity in the justice system,” she said.