Newly released survey data shows that Capitol Hill staffers and lobbyists have been vindicated so far in their pessimism regarding the prospects for marijuana reform during the 118th Congress.
Punchbowl News released a survey on Capitol Hill that included 71 percent top staffers. They said “unlikely” when asked if they thought any cannabis reforms would be passed during the two-year Congress.
This is roughly in line with data collected from a separate survey conducted by of staffers, which asked about the prospects for this year’s bipartisan marijuana banking legislation. The bill has passed a Senate Committee but hasn’t advanced any further despite repeated promises from Senate leadership. Only 13 percent of respondents said the bill would be passed before 2023.
All year long, our survey respondents were right on the money. Read their predictions on the second half of 118th Congress. This includes impeachment and funding for border security, Ukraine, and bank CEOs’ clawbacks, cannabis banking, and AI.
Punchbowl News December 19, 2020
Staff and lobbyists responded to a more general question for the newly released survey. The survey was conducted in April, but it’s being highlighted in a end-of-year report.
The mood was still somber, even though the question asked more broadly about the passage of any cannabis reform — beyond just banking-related reforms– for the remainder of the 118th Congress that ends this time next year. Only 19% of congressional staffers, including chiefs of office, legislative directors, communication directors, and other top aides, said it was “likely.”
Via Punchbowl News.
Staffers in Democratic offices are more optimistic. 29 percent of them believe that cannabis policy will be advanced, as opposed to 12 percent, who were not sure, and 59 percent, who thought it unlikely.
Only nine percent of Republican office staff said that it was probable, eight percent were unsure, and 83 said it is unlikely.
K Street lobbyists in March who responded to the same question were less confident about how Congress will navigate marijuana reform. 18% said that they thought it was “likely” it would happen, but more were unsure than staff (23%) and 59 % said it was unlikely.
In contrast to the partisan breakdown among Hill staffers, Republican lobbyists are slightly more likely to state that cannabis reform is “likely” advance.
The cannabis banking bill was cited as an example. While the questions were left open regarding the type of marijuana law that may or may not pass in this Congress, they did leave them open. It has been long believed that the incremental reform is a low-hanging apple, which enjoys bipartisan support. The House passed it in some form in recent sessions seven times.
In September, the revised Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER) passed the Senate Banking Committee. This renewed hopes among stakeholders and advocates that the bill could be approved this year and then sent to the GOP-controlled House. However, several factors prevented that from happening by 2023. These included lingering differences among lawmakers over certain provisions, as well as unrelated matters such as timing and changes in House leadership.
Obviously, the bill could move during the second half the Congress. As the divided legislature is stuck in a deadlock over funding for foreign aid, despite an immigration-related impasse, pushing the issue back to 2024, the timing of the reform and legislative priorities are causing doubts.
Outside Capitol Hill, however advocates still hold out hope that a review of cannabis scheduling by President Joe Biden will result in a easing of federal marijuana laws.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has suggested moving cannabis from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III. Now, it is up to the Drug Enforcement Administration to make the final decision.
Wisconsin could ‘potentially’ legalize medical marijuana this session, top GOP senator says as Governor pushes for broader reform
Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
The post Newly released survey shows that 70 percent of top Capitol Hill staff doubt any marijuana reform will pass this Congress, banking or otherwise, appeared first on Marijuana moment.
