With this success, many Americans are wondering, “Does cannabis have a shot at federal legalization?”

Many are optimistic and this was reflected in the rise in cannabis stock prices. However, many are just as skeptical that the current administration has bigger priorities than letting people get high.

Throughout this article, we’re going to discuss the realistic possibility of cannabis being federally legalized in the United States over the next few years.

Hope From the MORE ActOn December 4th, 2020, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act passed through the House of Representatives. This made it the first bill to be approved by Congress that would end cannabis prohibition.

While the MORE Act remains stalled at the Senate, this would be the one opportunity for cannabis legalization.

Under the proposition:

Cannabis would be removed from the Controlled Substance Act

All products would be taxed at 5%

Any past convictions concerning minor non-violent cannabis crimes would be expunged

A number of protocols would take place to ensure social reform in communities most affected by the War on DrugsUp until January, it seemed very uncertain whether the MORE Act would pass through the Senate or not.

Being Republican-controlled at the time, the consensus was it was a step in the right direction, but not enough to get what we wanted.With the Democrats now taking control of the Senate, there seems to be much more of a chance of this Act succeeding. However, obstacles still remain.

The Difficulty with COVID-19 

Admittedly, politicians and lawmakers currently have a lot more to worry about than legalizing cannabis. With the pandemic still raging on, nearly 10 million Americans remain out of work, a number of businesses have closed for good, and poverty is being seen in numbers that haven’t been heard of since the Great Depression.

Prior to the election results, the Democrats made many promises to help the millions of Americans who are currently struggling. Being the necessity for immediate action, they took no time to pass a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. ³ While there’s been plenty of argument as to whether or not this bill actually addresses the pandemic, there’s no doubt that it’s a small boost in the right direction.

Alongside this bill, with the vaccines rolling out, America is beginning to re-open its doors. Schools are opening, gatherings are being restricted as strictly, and in some states, mask mandates are ending.4With all that’s currently happening in the United States, it’s hoped that the pressing need for government in response to COVID-19 will be coming to an end. And with one need ending, another one arises: legalization.

Biden’s Stance on Cannabis 

While it’s too early to tell whether or not the MORE Act would pass the Senate, it’s even more difficult to pinpoint president Joe Biden’s stance on cannabis legalization. While Biden claims to be a president for “all Americans,” it’s very uncertain whether he agrees with the 67% who believe cannabis should be legalized.

In February 2020, Biden made comments that were reported in Politico concerning his official stance on cannabis legalization, “I think it is at the point where it has to be, basically, legalized.” He also mentioned he doesn’t believe cannabis is “a gateway drug.”

Unfortunately, throughout his campaign, Biden took a less progressive stance in comparison to other Democrats. All in all, Biden is in full favor of decriminalizing the substance, but legalization may be too ahead of his time.

It’s worth mentioning that Biden has a bit of a rocky past with cannabis. Beyond the fact that he never tried it (unlike his partner Barack Obama), he used to brag about writing the Patriot Act. A C