A key congressman involved in bicameral negotiations on a large-scale manufacturing bill says he’s optimistic about the prospects of including marijuana banking reform in the final version of the legislation that gets signed into law. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a longstanding champion of cannabis legalization who is serving as a conferee on the America COMPETES Act, talked about the state of play and steps he’s taking to secure the banking language during a press briefing on Monday. He said that there is a concerted effort among conferees in both chambers to make sure that the House-passed Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act is attached to the final conference report that’s sent to the president’s desk. And while Senate leadership has yet to cede the issue, he’s confident that the bicameral panel will seal the deal. “There is a strong base support among the conferees for keeping this [marijuana banking] language and enacting it,” he said. “We think that this is a perfect opportunity to get some actual movement on this.” “We’ve got a vehicle that needs to be acted upon relatively soon.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/16/2022 16:51:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congressman-says-theres-tremendous-momentum-to-pass-marijuana-banking-in-bicameral-conference-on-manufacturing-bill/

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) policies on drug testing truckers and other commercial drivers for marijuana are unnecessarily costing people their jobs and contributing to supply chain issues, a congressman said in a letter to the head of the department on Monday. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) cited DOT data showing that tens of thousands of drivers are being disqualified because of stringent drug screening policies around THC. He said that while nobody wants drivers impaired on the roads, there aren’t tests that can detect active impairment—so people are being penalized for using cannabis while off duty, days or weeks before they’re tested. “These disqualifications deny people the right to earn a living, reduce the workforce when drivers are desperately needed, and penalize people of color and patients who legally use medical cannabis,” he wrote. “This crisis must be treated with urgency.” The congressman told Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that his department “should rapidly reform requirements for testing drivers and returning them to service, as well as develop an accurate test for impairment.”

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/16/2022 14:56:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/congressman-urges-transportation-department-to-reform-marijuana-testing-policies-for-drivers/

Marijuana legalization is more popular in Texas than the state’s top elected officials and President Joe Biden, according to a new poll. The survey from the University of Texas at Tyler found that an overwhelmingly, bipartisan majority of Texans (83 percent) support medical cannabis legalization, and 60 percent said they’re in favor of recreational legalization as well. Support for medical marijuana reform crossed political lines, with 91 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of Republicans, and 85 percent of independents saying that patients should have legal access to cannabis. With respect to adult-use legalization, 76 percent of Democrats, 42 percent of Republicans, and 64 percent of independents said they back the policy change. The survey, which was released ahead of the state’s May 24 primary runoff elections, also asked residents about various political issues and their opinion of election officials and candidates. And the results demonstrate how marijuana reform is uniquely popular among adults in the Lone Star state. Both medical and recreational cannabis legalization is more popular than Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), whose approval ratings sit at 46 percent and 40 percent, respectively.

Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 05/16/2022 11:46:00

Open article: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-legalization-more-popular-in-texas-than-governor-biden-and-other-officials-new-poll-finds/