2022: Schweikert Voted Against The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment And Expungement Act, Which Established Federal Bonding, Permitting And Operational Requirements For Cannabis Businesses And Prohibited Small Business Administration Programs From Discriminating Against Cannabis-Related Businesses. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the MORE Act, which in part would "establish federal bonding, permitting and operational requirements for cannabis businesses. It would prohibit SBA programs from declining services to a business solely because it is a cannabis-related business and prohibit the denial of any federal public benefits to an individual on the basis of cannabis use or possession." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 107, 4/1/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Authorize $10 Million To Conduct A Study On Technologies And Ways Law Enforcement May Use To Determine Marijuana Impairment Of Drivers. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the MORE Act, which would "authorize $10 million for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, within one year of enactment, to conduct a study on technologies and methods that law enforcement may use to determine whether a driver is impaired by marijuana." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 243-172. [House Vote 103, 4/1/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 188; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617]
2020: Schweikert Effectively Voted For Allowing Employers To Maintain Authority To Drug Test An Employee Or Applicant For Cannabis Usage. In December 2020, during House consideration of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, Schweikert voted for "motion to recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee with instructions to report it back immediately with an amendment that would maintain the authority of employers to test an employee or applicant for cannabis use 'to ensure workplace and public safety."' The vote was on recommitting the bill. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 174-218. [House Vote 234, 12/4/20; Congressional Quarterly, 12/4/20; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3884]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment And Expungement Act, Which Decriminalized The Use And Possession Of Marijuana At The Federal Level And Expunged All Previous Arrests And Convictions For Non-Violent Marijuana Offenses. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the MORE Act, which in part would "decriminalize the use and possession of marijuana at the federal level. It would remove marijuana from the federal controlled substances list, eliminate federal criminal penalties for cannabis offenses and provide for the expungement of all previous arrests and convictions for nonviolent federal cannabis offenses." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 107, 4/1/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617]
The Bill Required The Government Accountability Office To Study The Societal Impacts Of Recreational Marijuana Legalization And Replaced The References Of "Marijuana" In Current Law With The Term "Cannabis." According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the societal impacts of recreational cannabis legalization by states. It would strike references of 'marihuana' and 'marijuana' in existing law and replace them with 'cannabis.'" [Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22]
The Bill Prohibited Federal Programs From Denying Public Benefits To Individuals Based On Cannabis Use Or Possession. According to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit the denial of any federal public benefits to an individual on the basis of cannabis use or possession." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22]
The Measure Would Federally Remove Cannabis From The List Of Controlled Substances And Pursue Expungements Of Records For Federal Convictions Of Marijuana-Related Offenses. According to Forbes, "The House in April of 2022 also passed the more sweeping Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, as it did in the last session of Congress. Similar to a previous draft of CAOA, the MORE Act would also remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and heavily pursues expungements for related federal convictions." [Forbes, 5/16/22]
The Bill Would Create A Procedure For Certain Individuals To Have Their Federal Cannabis Convicting Expunges And Sentences Reevaluated. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would also create a process for some people to get federal cannabis convictions expunged and sentences reviewed." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22]
Republicans Argued The Bill Did Not Adequately Address The Legal Age For Recreational Marijuana Use, The Differences Between Cannabis And Hemp, And Marijuana Use Among Motorists. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans pushed back on the bill, arguing that it doesn't sufficiently address the question of what the legal age for use should be; the differences between marijuana and hemp, a concern among agriculture interests; and use among motorists." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment And Expungement (MORE) Act. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the "Latta, R-Ohio, motion to recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee." The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 202-220. [House Vote 106, 4/1/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment And Expungement (MORE) Act. In March 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res 1017) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (HR 3617) and the Affordable Insulin Now Act (HR 6833). The rule would provide for up to one hour of general debate on each bill. It would provide for floor consideration of three amendments to HR 3617." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 219-202. [House Vote 99, 3/31/22; Congressional Quarterly, 3/31/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1017]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment And Expungement (MORE) Act. In March 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 1017) that would provide for House floor consideration of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act (HR 3617) and the Affordable Insulin Now Act (HR 6833). The rule would provide for up to one hour of general debate on each bill. It would provide for floor consideration of three amendments to HR 3617." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 219-202. [House Vote 98, 3/31/22; Congressional Quarterly, 3/31/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1017]
2020: Schweikert Voted Against The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment And Expungement Act, Which Included Decriminalizing Cannabis At The Federal Level, Imposing A Tax On Cannabis Products, Establishing Programs For Communities Impacted By The War On Drugs, And Prohibiting The Denial Of Benefits For Cannabis-Related Convictions. In December 2020, Schweikert voted against the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "decriminalize the use and possession of marijuana at the federal level. It would remove marijuana from the federal controlled substances list, eliminate federal criminal penalties for cannabis offenses and provide for the expungement of all previous arrests and convictions for non-violent federal cannabis offenses. It would create a federal excise tax on cannabis products manufactured in or imported into the United States, set at 5% for two years and gradually increasing to 8%. It would also create an annual 'occupational tax' of $1,000 for each cannabis production or export warehouse facility. It would establish a Treasury Department trust fund from tax proceeds, from which 40% would be available for Small Business Administration loan and licensing programs for the cannabis industry and 60% would be available for programs of a new Cannabis Justice Office within the Justice Department. The new office would administer a community reinvestment grant program for nonprofits to administer services for individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs, including job training, reentry services, literacy programs, legal aid and substance use disorder services. Among other provisions, it would establish federal bonding, permitting and operational requirements for cannabis businesses. It would prohibit SBA programs from declining services to a business solely because it is a cannabis-related business and prohibit the denial of any federal public benefits to an individual on the basis of cannabis use or possession. It would require the Labor Statistics Bureau to compile and publish demographic data on cannabis industry business owners and employees. It would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the societal impacts of recreational cannabis legalization by states. It would strike references of 'marihuana' and 'marijuana' in existing law and replace them with 'cannabis.'" The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 228-164. The House did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 235, 12/4/20; Congressional Quarterly, 12/4/20; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3884]
2022: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Denial Of Benefits To An Individual Under Immigration Law Based On Marijuana Use Or Possession That Would No Longer Be Prohibited By The MORE Act. In March 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert effectively voted against the manager's amendment to the MORE Act, which would "clarify language prohibiting the denial of benefits to an individual under immigration law based on any actions relating to marijuana use or possession that would no longer be prohibited under the bill's provisions." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 219-202, thus the manager's amendment was automatically adopted. [House Vote 99, 3/31/22; Congressional Quarterly, 3/31/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 1017]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Prohibit The Denial Of A Security Clearance Based On Past Or Current Marijuana Use And Require Federal Agencies To Review And Reevaluate Each Decision Made After May 1971 To Deny Or Rescind Someone's Security Clearance Based On Their Marijuana Use. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the MORE Act, which would "prohibit the denial or revocation of a security clearance based on past or present marijuana use. It would require each federal agency, within one year of enactment, to review and reassess each decision made on or after May 1, 1971, to deny or rescind an individual's security clearance based on past or present marijuana use." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 209-214. [House Vote 105, 4/1/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 190; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment And Expungement Act, Which Created A Federal Excise Tax On Cannabis Products And An Annual "Occupational Tax" For Cannabis Production Or Export Warehouse Facilities And Established A Treasury Department Trust Fund Using The Tax Revenue. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the MORE Act, which in part would "create a federal excise tax on cannabis products manufactured in or imported into the United States, set at 5 percent for two years and gradually increasing to 8 percent. It would also create an annual 'occupational tax' of $1,000 for each cannabis production or export warehouse facility. It would establish a Treasury Department trust fund from tax proceeds." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 107, 4/1/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617]
40% Of The Treasury Department Trust Fund Would Be Available For Small Business Administration Loan And Licensing Programs For The Cannabis Industry, Especially Socially And Economically Disadvantaged Businesses Owners And Communities Greatly Impacted By The War On Drugs. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would establish a Treasury Department trust fund from tax proceeds, from which 40 percent of funding would be available for Small Business Administration loan and licensing programs for the cannabis industry, focused on socially and economically disadvantaged business owners and individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22]
60% Of The Treasury Department Trust Fund Would Be Available For A New Cannabis Justice Office, Which Would Manage A Community Reinvestment Grant Program To Provide Services For Communities Impacted By The War On Drugs, Such As Job Training, Literacy Support, Legal Aid, And Substance Abuse Services. According to Congressional Quarterly, "60 percent of funding would be available for programs of a new Cannabis Justice Office within the Justice Department, which would administer a community reinvestment grant program for nonprofits to administer services for individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs, including job training, reentry services, literacy programs, legal aid and substance use disorder services." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22]
The House Bill Proposed A 5% Excise Tax Rate That Would Increase To 8% Over Five Years, Which Would Generate Up To $8.1 Billion By 2031, According To The Congressional Budget Office. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House bill calls for a 5 percent rate that would inch up to 8 percent over five years. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the House bill could generate $8.1 billion by 2031, some of which would be used to fund programs in communities most affected by the war on drugs." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22]
2022: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Require Studies On The Impacts Of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana On The Workplace, Schools And School-Aged Children And Require Development Of Best Practices For Employers Updating Their Policies Regarding The Use Of Recreational Cannabis And Best Practices To Protect Children From Any Negative Impacts From Marijuana Legalization. In April 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the MORE Act, which would "require the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to conduct a study on the impacts of the legalization of recreational cannabis by states on the workplace and develop best practices for employers that are transitioning their policies related to the use of recreational cannabis, prioritizing employers engaged in federal infrastructure projects, transportation, public safety and national security. It would also require the Education Department to conduct a study on the impact of the legalization of recreational cannabis by states on schools and school-aged children and develop best practices for educators and administrators to protect school-aged children from any negative impacts of such legalization." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 234-189. [House Vote 104, 4/1/22; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/22; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 189; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3617]