WASHINGTON — The House is expected to vote Friday on legislation that would legalize marijuana nationwide, eliminating criminal penalties for anyone who manufactures, distributes or possesses the substance.

This legislation is known as the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, passed in the House last year, but did not move forward in the Senate. This bill also would have procedures established to erase previous convictions from individuals’ records, and it would impose a tax for the sale cannabis products.

Taxes would be imposed at a rate of 5 percent to eventually rise to 8 percent. The tax revenue would be used to fund job training, mentorship, substance-use treatment and legal assistance, as well as youth recreation programs. The tax would provide loans for small cannabis businesses that “are owned and controlled by economically and socially disadvantaged persons.” summary of the bill said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the landmark bill was “one of the most significant criminal justice reform legislations in recent history.” She spoke on Thursday regarding the measure.

Pelosi stated that the legislation will provide “justice to those who are harmed due to the brutal, unjust consequences of criminalization”, open up opportunities for people in the industry, and decriminalize pot federally “so that we don’t repeat the grave errors of our past.”

37 states, Washington, D.C., and 38 other states have passed laws legalizing medical cannabis. 18 states, D.C., and 36 states allow recreational use of marijuana. according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. California became the first country to allow medical marijuana legalization in 1996. Pelosi emphasized the many changes that have been made to the state levels over the past several decades.

She said, “Now it’s time that the federal government follows suit.”

Chuck Schumer, D.N.Y., is working in tandem with Senators. Ron Wyden, D.Ore. and Cory Booker D.N.J. have been working with Sens. to draft similar legalization legislation. The prospects of passing this bill in the Senate are low, as Democrats will need to have all their members present and 10 Republicans for it to pass.