House committee passes marijuana bill to federally legalize the drug

The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill 24-10 Wednesday that would decriminalize marijuana at a federal level.

Why it matters This is the first time a congressional committee has passed a bill to nationally legalize the drug, as ABC notes.

• The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019, or MORE Act,would would require federal courts to expunge previous convictions for marijuana offenses,

What's next: The bill, which proposes to remove marijuana from a list of federally controlled substances, will now go to the full House.

Yes, but: While it has a good chance of passing in the Democratic-controlled House, it may well be thwarted in the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is against legalizing the drug, per CNBC.

Go deeper:

• Debate night: Booker, Biden butt heads over marijuana
• Pot poll: 26% want to get high
• Special report: Weed, Inc.