Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said on Wednesday that he “will lay me down” to block any other senators who seek to pass marijuana banking legislation before the body approves comprehensive cannabis reform like the federal legalization bill he newly unveiled alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Over in the House, meanwhile, the lead sponsor of the cannabis banking bill says he agrees with the need for a broader policy change—but feels that Congress should still advance the more incremental reform as soon as possible for public safety reasons. During a press conference on the long-anticipated Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, Schumer, Booker, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) were asked about whether the chamber should pursue a separate, House-passed bill that would simply protect banks that service state-legal marijuana businesses from being penalized by federal regulators if the trio cannot get enough support to advance their legalization legislation. Booker put the issue in no uncertain terms. “I’m telling you right now if somebody tries in the Senate to do just a banking bill,” Booker, said, it would only accomplish further enriching of people in a multi-billion industry without addressing the harms of the drug war. Because of that, Booker said, he will block any bills from advancing that singularly address cannabis banking issues.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 07/14/2021 13:42:00