Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee (D-OH), may be working on advancing a bipartisan cannabis bank bill in Congress. But he is still undecided about a initiative to legalize marijuana that will appear in his state’s November ballot.
Brown’s panel scheduled the markup of the revised Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Act next week. The chairman was then asked about his intentions to vote for Issue 2 in Ohio, which would legalize cannabis use by adults.
He did not say that he opposed the ballot measure, despite having a cannabis policy record that has long placed him at odds with some of his Democratic colleagues. however told WOSU he was “focused on stopping the extremists from a shutdown in the House,” as well passing legislation aimed to address illicit opioid trafficking.
Brown said that he would “read it in the next two, three weeks” and decide what to do when the time comes to vote on the cannabis ballot initiative.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, has affirmed that he will vote “yes” on Issue 2 and encouraged “all Ohio voters to participate and make their voices heard on this important issue.” Rep. Dave Joyce, R-OH, co-chairman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus has affirmed he will vote “yes” on issue 2. He’s also encouraged “all Ohioans to participate and make your voices heard on this very important issue.”
Brown has also been criticized by reformers for his long tenure in Congress. He consistently declined to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation , despite its growing bipartisan support.
He expressed “significant concern” over an earlier Ohio marijuana legalization measure in 2015 that voters ultimately rejected. To be fair, many longtime cannabis advocates opposed it because they believed the proposal would have unfairly shaped the market.
Brown has suggested as recently as 2018 that cannabis could be a gateway to other drugs.
He said that he would be watching the states which have legalized marijuana to see what happened. “If it means less addiction to stronger drugs or if that’s a portal–and I’m not sure we don’t yet know that.”
In 1998, Brown was a member of the House and voted in favor of a Resolution that stated that marijuana was a dangerous drug that should not be used for medicinal purposes. The measure also stated that the ambiguous messages sent by culture about marijuana usage are contributing to an acceptance of marijuana among teenagers and children.
The resolution stated that “Congress supports the Federal legal process in place to determine the safety and efficacy for drugs and opposes attempts to circumvent it by legalizing marijuana and other Schedule I substances for medicinal purposes without valid scientific evidence and approval from the Food and Drug Administration.”
According to NORML, Brown stated in a letter he wrote to a constituent that “there are certain risks involved with legalizing marijuana.” Brown wrote in a 2010 letter to a constituent that “there are risks associated with making marijuana legally available,” according to NORML.
Brown said in 2011 that he “probably” would not take the initiative to reform marijuana legislation.
The senator stated, “I have other priorities.”
Brown, as a member of the House, voted in favor amendments that prevented federal interference in state medical marijuana programs. He has also expressed support for the legalization of medical cannabis, and for preserving states’ right to set their own cannabis laws.
As chairman of the Banking Committee, he is now working actively to implement a policy that would give marijuana businesses access traditional financial services.
Brown, in a new interview with Ohio public radio, said that “whether you agree or disagree with marijuana legalization–and many people who support this law don’t –this new law is needed to protect the public.”
In a separate release on Wednesday, Senator stated that the “SAFER Banking Act” will allow small businesses to access banking services and financial services and ensure the safety of their employees.
He said, “I am looking forward to bringing this legislation to the Senate Floor with a majority of both parties.”
Bill is set for a markup by the Banking Committee on 27 September. In a separate interview given to Politico, he stated that he expected a “strong” majority of his panel members to vote in support of the legislation. The legislation has been retitled after a long, arduous bipartisan negotiation process.
Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY has pledged to advance the revised marijuana banking legislation as quickly as possible. He also says that he will push for legislation to be attached to the bill on cannabis expungements for medical marijuana users and gun rights.
Pennsylvania Senate passes bill allowing medical marijuana growers to sell directly to patients, with House considering home cultivation amendment
The post Key Senate Committee Chairman Undecided on Ohio Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative While He Works To Advance Cannabis Banking Bill first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
