国会历史上第一次，众议院民主党人准备在周五就一项将合法化的长期措施进行投票大麻在联邦一级的使用-由于担心有争议的投票可能导致一些立法者在11月输掉紧张的竞选，在撤回法案几个月后。
《大麻机会、再投资和驱逐法案》还将要求对以前的大麻定罪进行重新评估，为陷入禁毒战争的人投资服务，并为合法的大麻相关企业开放小企业管理局的资金。
尽管该法案得到了众议院民主党人的广泛支持，但由于参议院的共和党防火墙和唐纳德·特朗普总统仍占据白宫，该法案几乎没有可能在本届国会成为法律。拜登竞选时支持大麻合法化。
但是，即使当选总统乔·拜登在1月份就职后，民主党人也必须不仅在众议院通过这项措施，而且在参议院通过这项措施。上议院的多数控制权仍有待争夺——佐治亚州的两次决选定于下月初举行——但该立法将受到60票门槛的限制，才能在参议院获得通过，并进入坚决桌。
尽管这项措施自去年11月通过众议院司法委员会(House Judiciary Committee)以来已经尘埃落定，但一年多后计划进行的众议院投票的时间安排，让许多民主党人得以庆祝一项承诺，即在本届国会结束前通过该法案。
该法案的最初提案人之一、俄勒冈州民主党众议员厄尔·布鲁曼诺尔周四戴着一个带有大麻叶的口罩，主持了众议院关于该法案的辩论。
这一刻我等了47年。主持这场辩论是一种真正的荣誉。# EndCannabisProhibitionpic.twitter.com/6lqiV09Dfn
—厄尔·布鲁曼诺尔(@repblumenauer)2020年12月3日
穿过过道，共和党人继续在流感大流行期间批评民主党的优先事项，因为发言时间是有限的，对立法者来说是宝贵的——民主党和共和党都是如此。
“民主党人希望关注大麻和猫，而不是COVID救济，”众议院少数党领袖凯文·麦卡锡在周四国会大厦的新闻发布会上告诉记者。“你可能会认为，在今年的投票箱羞辱性失败后，民主党人没有击败一名现任共和党人，民主党人会明白，美国人要求在对他们重要的问题上采取行动。”
南希·佩洛西需要理清她的优先事项。
数百万美国人正在努力支付账单&小企业永远关门了&她只关心大麻和老虎。
向有需要的美国人提供援助应该是我们目前唯一的当务之急。
——众议员盖·雷申塔尔(@GReschenthaler)2020年12月3日
尽管新冠肺炎救助下一阶段的长期僵局仍在持续，但议员们仍未就议程上其他必须通过的立法达成一致，这些立法需要两党合作，包括一项资助政府的协议。在12月11日政府可能关闭之前，国会只有五天的立法时间。
尽管如此，众议院规则委员会主席吉姆·麦戈文(Jim McGovern)呼吁立法者“采取立场”，支持“恢复性司法，支持种族正义，支持刑事司法改革，并与大多数要求改革我国大麻政策的美国人站在一起。”
“有些人，特别是另一边的人，想知道为什么我们现在要推进这些改革。我们必须尽快为政府下一个财政年度提供资金，并通过年度国防法案。在周四的议案辩论中说道。“在本届国会即将结束的日子里，我们有很多事情要做。我明白。但答案很简单:这不是一个非此即彼的命题。国会可以边走边嚼口香糖。”
House to take historic vote on federally decriminalizing marijuana
For the first time in congressional history, House Democrats are poised for a vote Friday on a long-shot measure that would decriminalizemarijuanause at the federal level -- months after pulling the bill amid worries the controversial vote could cause some lawmakers to lose tight races in November.
The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement Act would also mandate a reassessment of prior marijuana convictions, invest in services for people caught up in the war on drugs and open Small Business Administration funding for legitimate cannabis-related businesses.
Despite widespread support from Democrats in the House of Representatives, the bill stands almost no chance of becoming law in the current session of Congress due to a Republican firewall in the Senate and President Donald Trump still occupying the White House. Biden campaigned in favor of decriminalizing marijuana.
But even after President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated in January, Democrats would have to pass the measure not just through the House again but also clear it through the Senate. The upper chamber’s majority control is still up for grabs -- with two runoff elections in Georgia are scheduled early next month -- but the legislation would be subject to a 60-vote threshold to advance through the Senate and on to the Resolute Desk.
Although the measure has collected dust since passing through the House Judiciary Committee last November, the timing of the planned floor vote more than a year later allows many Democrats to celebrate a promise to pass the bill before the end of the current session of Congress.
Oregon Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer, one of the bill’s original sponsors, presided over the House debate on the measure Thursday wearing a face mask featuring cannabis leaves.
I've been waiting for this moment for 47 years. To preside during this debate is a true honor.#EndCannabisProhibitionpic.twitter.com/6lqiV09Dfn
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer)December 3, 2020
Across the aisle, Republicanscontinued tocriticize Democratic priorities in the midst of a pandemic when floor time is limited and considered precious to lawmakers -- Democrats and Republicans alike.
“Democrats want to focus on cannabis and cats, not COVID relief,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters at a news conference in the Capitol on Thursday. “You’d think after a humiliating defeat at the ballot box this year, where Democrats didn't defeat one Republican incumbent, that Democrats would get the picture that Americans are demanding action on issues that matter to them.”
Nancy Pelosi needs to get her priorities straight.
Millions of Americans are struggling to pay bills & small businesses are shutting their doors for good & all she cares about is marijuana & tigers.
Delivering aid to Americans in need should be our only priority right now.
— Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler)December 3, 2020
While the prolonged stalemate over the next phase of COVID-19 relief persists, lawmakers still haven't come together on other must-pass legislation on the agenda that will require bipartisan cooperation, including an agreement to fund the government. Congress has just five legislative days remaining on the schedule before a potential government shutdown on Dec. 11.
Still, Rep. Jim McGovern, chair of the House Rules Committee, called on lawmakers “to take a stand” for “restorative justice, to stand for racial justice, to stand for criminal justice reform, and to stand with the majority of Americans demanding reforms to our nation’s cannabis policy.”
“Some, particularly on the other side, have wondered why we are moving forward with these reforms now. We must soon fund the government for the next fiscal year and pass the annual defense bill,” McGovern, D-Mass., said during debate on the bill Thursday. “We have a lot to do in the waning days of this Congress. I get that. But the answer is simple: This is not an either-or proposition. Congress can walk and chew gum at the same time.”
