In Congress, a new version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) did not include cannabis banking reform and the cannabis industry is pretty ticked off. The House originally passed its initial version of the NDAA in September that included the language that would protect banks that work with state-legal cannabis businesses. The new Act did not include those provisions. In a sort of hail mary pass, Rep. Perlmutter filed an amendment in committee to attach the marijuana language to the legislation— but he ultimately didn’t insist on a vote. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), who is not on the Rules Committee but who is a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, said it is “incredibly disappointing” that the cannabis language was taken out of NDAA. Marijuana Moment also reported that “the new defense bill also excludes an NDAA amendment filed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) that would have streamlined the application process for researchers who want to investigate cannabis as well as manufacture the plant to be used in studies. It also doesn’t include a separate Schatz-led amendment to federally legalize medical marijuana for military veterans who comply with a state program where they live.”
Nia Foxx, Green Market Report, 12/08/2021 13:10:00