Progressive, civil rights groups: Delay House marijuana banking bill
A growing group would rather Congress fix federal marijuana laws first, before taking on marijuana banking.
Progressive and civil rights groups are asking House Democratic leaders to delay consideration of marijuana banking legislation so Congress can deal with the cannabis issue “holistically.”
“We are concerned that if the House approves this bill, it will undermine broader and more inclusive efforts to reform our country’s marijuana laws,” the groups, including the ACLU, the Center for American Progress and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, wrote in their letter Tuesday.
The House may consider marijuana banking legislation as soon as next week. The bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) and Denny Heck (D-Wash.), would provide financial institutions a safe harbor for providing services to marijuana-related businesses in states where cannabis is legal.
The bill has 206 cosponsors in the House.
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