Rep. Payne, Jr. Helps Pass Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana  

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. helped pass the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act today.  The bill (H.R. 3617) would decriminalize marijuana nationwide, require federal courts to expunge prior marijuana convictions for Americans, and save taxpayers at least $3.6 billion per year in marijuana arrests and prosecutions.  It would create an “opportunity trust fund” to support minority marijuana entrepreneurs and marijuana business development in socially and economically-disadvantaged communities that were negatively-affected by previous marijuana policy.

“There are too many Black and Latino men languishing in prison for offenses that are no longer crimes in most states.” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “This bill would right the social and legal wrongs that put them there and give these Americans a fresh start.  In addition, marijuana has been found to help Americans and our veterans handle chronic pain and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  I am proud to support this bill and hope the Senate passes it soon.”

The bill would reverse a drug law that has existed since 1937.  Since then, dozens of medical studies have shown that marijuana has significant health benefits when taken in controlled quantities, such as post-surgery and chronic pain relief.  In addition, marijuana drug enforcement arrests more minorities and subjects them to longer prison sentences than white offenders for the same crimes.  Studies have shown that Blacks are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession and Latinos are almost seven times more likely to receive a federal sentence for it than their white counterparts.  Currently, 47 out of the 50 U.S. states have reclassified marijuana and many states have made small amounts legal for recreational use.  New Jersey decriminalized marijuana on February 22, 2021.