The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted in favour of a bill that would legalize marijuana at the federal level.

This is the first time either body of Congress has backed the legalization of marijuana, though the legislation still faces the test of the Republican-led Senate, which is largely seen to be against it.

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, or MORE Act, would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and abolish criminal penalties for persons who possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana.

The bill also fronts a process that would remove prior convictions and would also open up federal loans to marijuana businesses.

(With input from agecies)