After a week of hope, the SAFE Banking Act dies again in the Senate

Proponents of cannabis legalization have learned over the years not to get our hopes up for federal changes. But damn, this one seemed really close.

As of last week, the internet began to glow with news and commentary from advocates for cannabis legalization. Despite years of disappointment, they seemed optimistic that change was imminent. Congress had a lame duck session in early December — that rare moment when politicians are free to choose their conscience without fear that it will bite them on Election Day.

Maybe, just maybe, the US Senate could include a trio of bills in the Must-Pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

But then the excitement faded. Lawmakers released the text of the NDAA Tuesday night, and the language of cannabis reform was nowhere to be found.

Read on to learn what’s in the bills, what happened to the bills, and what might happen next.

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Murder Changed My Mind: Pass the SAFE Banking Act Now

What’s in these three bills?

The proposed legislation will have a huge impact on the cannabis industry.

SECURE would allow cannabis companies to access banking services, including loans. It would also allow customers to make purchases using credit cards, which would reduce the amount of cash businesses carry and with it – hopefully – the spate of robberies, including murders, that have taken place at pot shops. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the bill six times (yes, you read that right), but the Senate has failed once, despite bipartisan support.

HOPE would provide grants to states to offset the financial burden of processing deletions. The bill was introduced by Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Dave Joyce (R-OH), a co-chair of the House Cannabis Caucus.

GRAMintroduced by the late Representative and former co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus Don Young (R-AK), would allow Americans who own firearms to legally possess marijuana.

WTF happened to the NDAA?

Despite bipartisan support for these bills, GOP leaders have stood in the way of NDAA membership.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made his position clear during a speech on Tuesday.

“As Republicans have insisted, as our service members deserve, this NDAA will not be dragged down by unrelated liberal nonsense,” McConnell said. “Good smart policies have been kept and incoherent nonsense like easier funding for illicit drugs has been kept out.”

“I’m glad this Democrat-led Congress has finally recognized that defending America is a fundamental duty of government. It’s not a Republican priority that Democrats can demand that non-contiguous treats be rolled in,” he added.

Other GOP senators — including supporters of the bills — argued that a defense spending bill simply wasn’t the appropriate vehicle to pass them.

“It dilutes the proper role of this place,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a SAFE co-sponsor, told Politico.

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) met with Justice Department officials this week and remained undeterred in his decision to oppose SAFE.

What’s next for these bills?

Reform advocates have only a few cards left for 2022: Incorporating language from the bills into the forthcoming omnibus government spending bill could be a viable option.

Rep. Earl Perlmutter (D-CO) — a veteran advocate for cannabis reform — announced his intention to squeeze politics in there. “I’m not giving up on this damn thing just yet,” he said Wednesday.

Nonetheless, Senator McConnell has made it clear that, like the NDAA, he will oppose the policy of the omnibus package. All supporters of legalization have hope.

In addition, the package could also technically release the Senate as a standalone vote. While Politico’s Natalie Fertig reported that several GOP senators believe they can surpass the 60 vote threshold, insiders are less confident they have enough time to plan a vote before next Thursday’s June 16 session December, ends.

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