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The United States Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill on Thursday, July 23,<\/p>\n
2015, allowing the nation\u2019s capital to establish regulated marijuana retail stores, and to allow<\/p>\n
banks to provide financial services to state-legalized marijuana dispensaries. These are two of<\/p>\n
the major marijuana reforms advancing in Congress.\u00a0 In addition, sentencing reform is gaining<\/p>\n
support, and the U.S. Federal Government is shifting its attitude towards treating drug use as a<\/p>\n
health issue rather than a criminal justice issue. Last November, 72% of D.C. voters approved a<\/p>\n
ballot measure making it legal to possess and grow marijuana for personal use. The campaign to<\/p>\n
pass Initiative 71 was driven by public demands to end racially-biased enforcement of marijuana<\/p>\n
laws. It was seen as the first step at taking marijuana out of the black market. A wide-ranging<\/p>\n
coalition of community organizations from many civil rights organizations, faith leaders, and<\/p>\n
community advocacy groups supported Initiative 71. They\u00a0viewed it\u00a0as an opportunity to restore<\/p>\n
the communities most harmed by the War on Drugs.<\/p>\n
After a\u00a0political tug-of-war,\u00a0House Republican leadership was able to push through a<\/p>\n
controversial spending amendment that prohibited D.C. from legalizing and regulating marijuana<\/p>\n
sales, but the amendment allowed Initiative 71 to take effect. Therefore, it is legal to possess,<\/p>\n
use, and grow marijuana in the nation\u2019s capital but the sale of marijuana remains illegal and<\/p>\n
unregulated. D.C. officials, police, and drug policy experts have complained that Congress is<\/p>\n
undermining public safety by preventing the city from regulating marijuana sales, with some<\/p>\n
calling the situation \u201cthe dealer protection act.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Financial Services spending bill adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee<\/p>\n
deletes the congressional ban passed by the House of Representatives. If the bill becomes law,<\/p>\n
D.C. could finally regulate marijuana sales. This bill allows for the city to set time and place<\/p>\n
restrictions, require proper labeling and content control, establish age restrictions, and tax<\/p>\n
marijuana as well as using the proceeds for treatment, education, and rebuilding communities<\/p>\n
devastated by the failed War on Drugs. While the House version of the funding bill contains<\/p>\n
language restricting sales, the Obama Administration\u2019s budget included\u00a0language\u00a0that would<\/p>\n
allow DC to move forward with regulated sales. A funding deal is expected to be hashed out by<\/p>\n
the House, Senate, and the Administration later this year when these bills go to conferencing.<\/p>\n
The Senate Appropriations Committee also approved, an amendment today by Senators<\/p>\n
Merkley (D-OR) and Murray (D-WA) allowing banks to provide services to marijuana stores in<\/p>\n
localities where marijuana is legal.\u00a0 Currently, because marijuana is illegal under federal law,<\/p>\n
both medical and non-medical marijuana businesses are unable to access banking services like<\/p>\n
any other business. Consequently, many marijuana businesses operate as cash-only, leading to<\/p>\n
public safety issues as businesses become the target of robberies, and are forced to hire armed<\/p>\n
security to protect their revenues. Conducting business in all cash makes it difficult for<\/p>\n
regulators and police to oversee marijuana businesses, track money, ensure people are paying<\/p>\n
their fair-share of taxes, and keep the marijuana industry transparent and accountable. By<\/p>\n
allowing marijuana stores to have access to checking accounts, credit cards, payroll companies,<\/p>\n
and other financial services the Merkley-Murray amendment improves public safety and<\/p>\n
oversight.<\/p>\n
These major steps towards reform are just two more dominoes that must fall and will<\/p>\n
eventually lead to the end of Federal Prohibition.<\/p>\n
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By Christopher Cano | Executive Director, Central Florida NORML<\/p>\n
www.centralflnorml.org<\/p>\n