The House of Representatives has voted to decriminalize marijuana on a federal level and levy a tax on the production and sale of marijuana-related products, the Washington Post reports.  The Senate under Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is unlikely to take up the legislation, rendering the bill moot.

The MORE Act (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019) would allow people to grow and process marijuana without federal penalty, and it would expunge the criminal records of people convicted of federal marijuana possession crimes.

“For far too long, we have treated marijuana as a criminal justice problem instead of as a matter of personal choice and public health,″ said Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a key sponsor of the bill. “Whatever one’s views are on the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use, the policy of arrests, prosecution and incarceration at the federal level has proven unwise and unjust.″

Many state allows the possession of marijuana for medical and/or recreational use, but federal law has still allowed federal agents to arrest people on marijuana possession and distribution charges, even in states where it’s legal by state law.

Currently, marijuana-related businesses are prevented from using federally-insured banks to process money or provide basic banking services.  A bill that would allow licensed businesses to use banking services passed the House earlier this year, but the McConnell-led Senate has refused to take up the bill.

The MOVE Act passed the House with a 228-164 majority, with people from both Parties voting for and against it.  The vast majority of “nay” votes were from Republicans.