Rep. Johnson Votes To Advance Justice, Decriminalize Cannabis

Press Release

Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) voted for historic criminal justice reform legislation to advance racial and economic justice for Georgians. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement [MORE] Act will expunge the records of those harmed by cannabis criminalization, create opportunities for all to participate in the legal cannabis industry and decriminalize cannabis at the federal level.

"Today, I proudly voted to deliver justice for Georgians harmed by decades of unjust federal drug laws," said Rep. Johnson. "By passing the MORE Act, the Democratic House is following some states' lead in implementing smarter, fairer cannabis policies. This landmark legislation will help advance racial and economic justice by expunging federal cannabis convictions, opening the door to prosperity for minority-owned cannabis businesses and federally decriminalizing cannabis."

Despite reform laws passed in 47 states, including Georgia, the enforcement of federal cannabis criminalization continues to disproportionately harm people of color and hold many back from the benefits of the legal cannabis marketplace. People of color are four times more likely to be arrested on cannabis charges -- and are often targeted for longer prison sentences. Because prior cannabis convictions bar many individuals from entering the cannabis industry, only one-fifth of cannabis businesses are minority-owned and only four percent of owners are Black.

Similar to previous legislation passed by the Democratic House in 2020, the MORE Act will help ensure that Georgians harmed by criminalization can take full advantage of the legal and growing cannabis industry. In addition to expunging cannabis-related convictions and removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, this legislation:

- Establishes the Opportunity Trust Fund to provide loans for small, disadvantaged cannabis businesses, promote equitable cannabis licensing programs and fund re-entry services for Georgians harmed by cannabis criminalization.
- Prohibits the denial of any federal benefit based on the legal use or possession of cannabis, including housing.

"House Democrats are Building a Better America, with an intense focus on advancing racial, economic and social justice," continued Rep. Johnson. "We will not relent until we pass comprehensive criminal justice reform and pave the path to a fairer future for all Georgians."

According to The New York Times, "By lowering law enforcement and incarceration costs and imposing new taxation, the bill would save the government hundreds of millions of dollars. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the act would reduce the federal deficit by nearly $3 billion over the next decade."

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