It’s the first week of January, and you all know what that means in the blogging game: It’s time to make wild predictions about the coming year. As always, making predictions is hard, particularly when they’re about the...more
In perhaps his most controversial cabinet appointment yet, earlier today, President-elect Trump said he would nominate Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General. Although Gaetz’s nomination was met with skepticism by...more
SAFER Banking Act Heads to Senate Floor - On September 27, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act (S.2860) was reported out from the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs with...more
Fresh on the heels of intense optimism over the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation that cannabis be rescheduled, another key federal reform is in motion. On September 27, 2023, the Senate Committee will...more
Advocates of the SAFE Banking Act – who by now must be feeling a little like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football – were dealt another setback last week. The beleaguered proposal finds itself simmering in committee just...more
GOP Senator Backs Marijuana Banking Bill, but Doubts Democratic Leadership Will Advance It - “Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), said that he’d be a ‘yes’ vote on the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act if it...more
I. Marijuana - Currently, 31 states plus the District of Columbia allow the recreational use of marijuana. In addition, 37 states and the District of Columbia currently allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes....more
SAFE Banking Gets a Senate Hearing - The Senate Banking Committee has scheduled a hearing on May 11 for the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. The hearing will involve both Republican and Democrat...more
With the recent reintroduction of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, Congress is once again engaged in an effort to achieve a meaningful breakthrough on federal cannabis reform. Understandably, many have...more
As the midterm elections come to an end, we revisit the future of the SAFE Banking Act and the hurdles we expect to see in the coming Congressional term. If passed, the SAFE Banking Act would remove uncertainties surrounding...more
As the regulated sale of cannabis increasingly becomes sanctioned under state law, federal implications arising from its classification as a controlled substance continue to frustrate those in the banking industry who view...more
It is undeniable that, not only is the cannabis industry here to stay, but it is growing exponentially. To date, 47 states, 4 U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis in some form – whether they...more
Now that the results of a tumultuous presidential election appear clear, attention shifts to what to expect during President-elect Joe Biden’s first term. It is fair to say that a Biden White House will sharply contrast with...more
Late last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 595, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019 (the “SAFE Banking Act”). The stated purpose of the SAFE Banking Act is to “increase public safety by...more
On September 25, 2019, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act with a vote of 321 in favor and 103 against. Notwithstanding widespread public support,...more
In a surprise to some, a Republican-controlled Senate Committee has scheduled a hearing to consider the current challenges to providing financial services to cannabis-related businesses operating in states that have legalized...more
116th Congress’ first cannabis-related hearing - Next week, Congress will hold a long-awaited hearing on the future of banking in the cannabis industry. On Wednesday the 13th, the House Financial Services Committee...more