Republicans soften on federal marijuana reform in a shift that could make it a reality

[Social Media]

 

WASHINGTON — Cannabis reform is moving one step closer to reality at the federal level, with a committee hearing on a bipartisan bill to expand banking services for legal marijuana businesses expected at the end of the month, according to multiple people directly involved in the process.

The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee is expected to hold a markup session for the bill, known as the SAFE Banking Act, the week of Sept. 25, three sources familiar with the talks said. The markup process, which allows senators to debate and consider amendments, is viewed as a key step in advancing the bill to the Senate floor.

 

Both Republicans and Democrats on the committee support the bill and expressed confidence that it would have enough support to pass the Senate when it comes up for a full vote, a step Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed to take as soon as this fall.

“We’ve got enough votes to get it passed,” Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said, adding in an interview that he is "cautiously optimistic we may have something before the end of the month.”

The SAFE Banking Act would make it lawful for legal marijuana businesses to use major financial and banking institutions. Under current law, banks and creditors could face federal prosecution if they provide services to legal businesses selling the drug, leaving business owners unable to use banks as the drug remains against federal law. 

“I want to see a strong vote come out" of the committee, the panel's chair, Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, told reporters. “It helps us with momentum on the floor and the House.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., one of eight Republicans who have signed on as co-sponsors, said, “I feel pretty good about passing the bill.”

 

FULL STORY

[stoner]

the world will follow if this happens. 

 

 

[NextG]

Erm…. Social Media posted this in the Alternative/Renewable Energy Forum. 
Are there only Bots working there now?

[Chomper Higgot]

There’s a tripping trap.

 

Repealing Federal Anti Marijuana laws would inevitably lead to pardoning those convicted of crimes under the prohibition.

 

And that would mean significant number getting their voting rights back.

[stoner]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There’s a tripping trap.

 

Repealing Federal Anti Marijuana laws would inevitably lead to pardoning those convicted of crimes under the prohibition.

 

And that would mean significant number getting their voting rights back.

ya and ? what are you getting at with the statement. 

Edited September 15, 2023 by stoner

[placeholder]

5 hours ago, stoner said:

ya and ? what are you getting at with the statement. 

This:

Racial Disparity In Marijuana Arrests

"African Americans are arrested for violating marijuana possession laws at nearly four times the rates of whites, yet both ethnicities consume marijuana at roughly the same rates.
A 2022 Washington Post analysis determined, “While marijuana arrests overall dropped in the year since Virginia became the first state in the South to legalize, Black adults accounted for nearly 60 percent of marijuana-related cases before the state’s general district and circuit courts, an analysis of marijuana-related code citations in the state’s court system concluded, despite Black people accounting for about 20 percent of the state population.”
Washington Post, After Virginia legalized pot, majority of defendants are still Black
A 2022 analysis of marijuana possession arrests in Texas for the years 2017 to 2019 reported that African Americans comprised 30.2 percent of all possession arrests, yet Black people comprised only 12.9 percent of the state’s population.

A 2021 analysis from the Milwaukee County, Wisconsin District Attorney’s Office reported that Black Wisconsinites were 4.3 times more likely than their white counterparts to be convicted for having marijuana. The worst disparities in Wisconsin are in Ozaukee County, where Black people are 34.9 times more likely to be arrested and Manitowoc County, where Black people are 29.9 times more likely to be arrested.”

https://norml.org/marijuana/fact-sheets/racial-disparity-in-marijuana-arrests/

 

[stoner]

20 minutes ago, placeholder said:

This:

Racial Disparity In Marijuana Arrests

"African Americans are arrested for violating marijuana possession laws at nearly four times the rates of whites, yet both ethnicities consume marijuana at roughly the same rates.
A 2022 Washington Post analysis determined, “While marijuana arrests overall dropped in the year since Virginia became the first state in the South to legalize, Black adults accounted for nearly 60 percent of marijuana-related cases before the state’s general district and circuit courts, an analysis of marijuana-related code citations in the state’s court system concluded, despite Black people accounting for about 20 percent of the state population.”
Washington Post, After Virginia legalized pot, majority of defendants are still Black
A 2022 analysis of marijuana possession arrests in Texas for the years 2017 to 2019 reported that African Americans comprised 30.2 percent of all possession arrests, yet Black people comprised only 12.9 percent of the state’s population.

A 2021 analysis from the Milwaukee County, Wisconsin District Attorney’s Office reported that Black Wisconsinites were 4.3 times more likely than their white counterparts to be convicted for having marijuana. The worst disparities in Wisconsin are in Ozaukee County, where Black people are 34.9 times more likely to be arrested and Manitowoc County, where Black people are 29.9 times more likely to be arrested.”

https://norml.org/marijuana/fact-sheets/racial-disparity-in-marijuana-arrests/

 

yes and all those numbers have nothing to do with voting. 

[placeholder]

18 hours ago, stoner said:

yes and all those numbers have nothing to do with voting. 

Really, because Black Americans don't tend to vote Democratic? You really want to go with that? Do you understand that the laws in the South that were legislated after the Civil War  outlawed felons from ever being able to vote again were directed at Black citizens?

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/racism-felony-disenfranchisement-intertwined-history

[stoner]

3 hours ago, placeholder said:

Really, because Black Americans don't tend to vote Democratic? You really want to go with that? Do you understand that the laws in the South that were legislated after the Civil War  outlawed felons from ever being able to vote again were directed at Black citizens?

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/racism-felony-disenfranchisement-intertwined-history

ok.

[bendejo]

Repealing Federal anti-pot laws would probably lead to Federal regulation of the stuff.  Rules and taxes.  Will illegal growers be subject to Elliot Ness -type raids? 

 

[TooPoopedToPop]

7 hours ago, bendejo said:

Repealing Federal anti-pot laws would probably lead to Federal regulation of the stuff.  Rules and taxes.  Will illegal growers be subject to Elliot Ness -type raids? 

 

That's a distinct possibility.

A more rational way would be to let states enact their own laws and regulations based on local sensibilities and conditions.