The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act has been lingering in Congress, ignored by republicans, introduced by Representative Jerrold Nadler and supported by over 94 House Democrats, seeks to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, expunge past marijuana-related convictions, and reinvest in communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.
A glaring issue with this bill, however, is the lack of support from Republican lawmakers, with none co-sponsoring the legislation. This opposition raises critical questions about the Republican stance. For a party that often espouses capitalist values and limited government intervention, opposing the MORE Act seems contradictory. Legalizing marijuana could foster new economic opportunities, especially in the cannabis industry, which generated $20 billion in sales in 2020 and is projected to double by 2025. Supporting this bill could also alleviate taxpayers’ burden by reducing the $3.6 billion annual cost of enforcing marijuana prohibition.
Republicans’ resistance becomes even more perplexing when considering that more Americans now consume marijuana than drink alcohol. A recent Gallup poll found that 17% of U.S. adults smoke marijuana, surpassing the 14% who report drinking alcohol regularly.
With public sentiment favoring cannabis legalization and consumption on the rise, continuing to advocate for prohibition seems not only out of touch but potentially harmful to political capital. Is it wise for Republicans to stand against reform when the majority of Americans—and their own voter base—are increasingly in favor of it?
History only deepens the irony of Republican opposition. President Richard Nixon, the architect of the War on Drugs, privately admitted that marijuana was not particularly dangerous. The Shafer Commission, which he convened, recommended decriminalization in 1972 based on scientific evidence. Yet Nixon dismissed this, choosing political expediency over facts—a decision that has had decades-long consequences.
Republicans’ refusal to support the MORE Act, despite its clear economic and social justice benefits, calls into question their commitment to capitalist principles and patriotism. If the party truly stands for free-market values and personal liberty, why do they continue to back policies rooted in fear and outdated ideologies? The time to embrace scientific truth and the economic potential of cannabis is now, and opposition to this bill risks leaving Republicans on the wrong side of history.