[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORTING MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about how proud I was to 
support the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act last 
week. It decriminalizes marijuana and expunges marijuana arrests from 
the books.
  Marijuana laws have been devastating to minority communities. African 
and Latino Americans are four times more likely to be arrested for 
marijuana offenses than are White Americans, and they receive longer 
prison sentences for the same crimes.
  Today, minorities are in prison for offenses that are no longer 
crimes in most States. This bill would give these Americans a fresh 
start.
  In addition, the bill has an opportunity trust fund to create 
opportunities for minority marijuana businesses.
  It is time we passed this bill and ended the gross injustice of 
marijuana law enforcement in this country.

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