Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (DNY) spoke on Saturday at a marijuana rally held in New York City, and vowed to pass federal cannabis bank reform legislation while Congress worked to end prohibition.
Schumer was one of many lawmakers, officials and entrepreneurs who reflected on the progress made in the reform movement during the NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally, which celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Saturday.
The majority-leader has now participated in this event for the third consecutive year. He told the attendees that there are many reasons to celebrate, including New York’s launch of an adult-use cannabis market and progress made on Capitol Hill in regards to federal cannabis policy reform.
Schumer stated, “We achieved a real success here in New York by legalizing marijuana. I had pushed the state legislature to make this happen.” “While there have been real changes to the implementation of marijuana in New York, no one – no one – can take away from what legalizing cannabis means in this country. Congress must now catch up. “I’m trying to get Congress to catch New York.”
He praised the recent scheduling of an Senate Banking Committee Hearing on Cannabis Banking Issues and Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE Banking Act), which will take place Thursday.
Schumer, at the event, said: “We will bring the bill to the floor – God willing we’ll get the votes in the committee – and we will add the expungement records of those who have suffered because of the overcriminalization of marijuana.” “The SAFE Banking Act” is a positive thing.
The majority leader stated, “We must do social justice. We need to attach it to SAFE Act. And pass it all together.” “I’m behind you 100%.” “I can’t wait to celebrate in Union Square when cannabis will be legalized throughout the United States of America in the future.”
Last time Schumer addressed NYCCPR he he focused on the legislation he was working on at that time which would end federal prohibition of marijuana. The majority leader has made it clear that while he stated at a 4/20 event held in the Capitol that he intends to refile the bill, his first priority is passing the banking legislation in a divided Congress.
Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee (D-OH), told reporters in advance that senators would “move swiftly” to pass the Sens. Jeff Merkley, R-MT and Steve Daines, D-OR.
Both sides of the aisle are pushing for urgent action to be taken on this standalone measure.
The SAFE Banking Act protects banks who work with state-legal marijuana businesses from being penalized. The amendments to the latest version have been a source of encouragement for advocates . However, as Schumer explained the plan is to revise the bill on the floor in order to include additional equity provisions.
This bill is seen as one of the most likely to pass this session, with Republicans controlling the House. Former top aide of Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), recently wrote an opinion piece for Marijuana Moment explaining the new political dynamics that could boost the bill’s chances of passing this year.
Schumer has stated his commitment to moving forward with the marijuana banking bill, which includes criminal justice provisions. He called the effort to repair the damage of the war on drugs as a “moral obligation” for Congress.
The current makeup of Congress has led to some doubts about the feasibility of any cannabis reform. Senate Republicans have blocked a motion to move forward a bipartisan measure that would require studies on the medical potential for cannabis to help veterans suffering from chronic pain or PTSD.
In recent years, the SAFE Banking Act was approved in a largely bipartisan manner in the House. It’s been stuck in the Senate for years, under both Democratic leadership and Republican leadership.
Schumer stated last month that he is “disappointed,” that the SAFE Plus package, which included marijuana banking and expungements, did not advance. He said that lawmakers will “continue to work in a bipartisan manner” in order to accomplish the task.
In the first months of the new Congress, the majority leader has met with Democratic members and Republican members to discuss marijuana reform proposals which might be able to garner bipartisan support this year.
Booker acknowledged that the failure to pass a banking solution for the cannabis industry would “literally” mean that hundreds of businesses will go out of business.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, who is sponsoring a House version of SAFE Banking Act said that he believes it’s crucial that advocates and legislators align on any incremental proposal to end the war on drugs, warning that an “all or nothing” mentality.
In recent weeks, Congress has received numerous cannabis bills in addition to the banking legislation.
Bipartisan members of Congress, for example, have introduced a bill that would mandate the automatic sealing criminal records in certain cases where federal marijuana convictions were not violent.
Last month, House and Senate legislators reintroduced a bill to give a safe harbor for insurance companies who work with licensed marijuana business.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-FL, introduced legislation last week to protect Second Amendment rights for people who use marijuana legally in states. This would allow them to buy and possess firearms they are currently prohibited to have under federal law.
Reps. Dave Joyce, R-OH and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-NY have introduced a bill that would provide federal grants to encourage state and local marijuana expulsions.
Last month, Joyce, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffreys (D-NY), filed a bill to help prepare the federal government to legalize marijuana. The measure directed the Attorney General to create a commission that would study cannabis and make recommendations on how to regulate it in a similar way to alcohol.
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The post Schumer says Marijuana banking bill will go to Senate floor–with Expungements and ‘Social justice’ attached–At NYC Cannabis Rally first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
