Bipartisan lawmakers introduce marijuana banking amendment to spur passage of National Defense Authorization Act
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Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), house sponsor of a bipartisan marijuana-banking reform bill, filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2023 that would become the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act to be included, Marijuana Moment reported.
Last week, the House Armed Services Committee marked the 2023 version of the NDAA, and now the House Rules Committee will decide which submitted amendments can be approved for consideration.
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“As I have said repeatedly, I will pursue all legislative opportunities to get SAFE Banking across the finish line this year,” Perlmutter said in a press release. “We have a crucial window before the end of the year to implement sensible cannabis reforms, starting with access to the banking system. Continued inaction on this matter is dangerous and reckless and continues to endanger communities, businesses, employees and patients across the country.”
The Perlmutter-sponsored measure, which has supported the banking law from the start, was triggered after Congressional leadership agreed to exclude marijuana-banking legislation in the final version of the United States Innovation and Competition Act — America COMPETES Act.
Purpose of SAFE
Recently, during an awards ceremony from the NDAA, the House Armed Services Committee passed two amendments to a must-pass defense spending law regarding marijuana-related issues in the US military.
Last week, Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) expressed his concern about the military code’s cannabis sentencing standards. Also, Rep. Seth Moulton (DMA) asked the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct a study on the medical efficacy of cannabis versus opioids.
In addition, Perlmutter noted that Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) endorsed the SAFE Banking Act in a letter to leadership last month.
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“The call to service should be backed by service and support when the troops come home. Offering SAFE in the NDAA is a matter of national security and preparedness and reflects the strength of our country,” said Gary Hess, CEO of the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives. “SAFE would serve the tens of thousands of veterans already working in the cannabis industry and protect the millions of others who turn to them for therapeutic options and future employment opportunities.”
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.
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