The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.
However, the legislation is not expected to advance further as long as the Senate remains in Republican hands.
It was the first time either chamber of Congress has voted to end the federal ban on marijuana since the drug was listed as a "controlled substance" in 1970.
Fifteen U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of marijuana, and over 30 states allow some form of the drug for medicinal purposes.
U.S. cannabis sales hit record levels over the Thanksgiving weekend.
But the federal ban on the drug persists, which creates conflicts with state laws and limits cannabis companies' access to banking services and funding.
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