John Fetterman changes Senate, now SAFE Banking

John Fetterman (D-PA) is a man who should receive attention in the U.S. Senate. At six feet tall, he towers over most people, and his quirky way of wearing shorts and hoodies creates a sharp contrast to the suits around him. Loudly, harshly and unabashedly, he tells it like it is. And one of the things he shares is that marijuana should be legal, and has angered the president and his administration. Now it appears that John Fetterman has sponsored another change in the Senate. Maybe he can use his influence with Schumer to push through SAFE banking.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) directed the Senate Sergeant at Arms to no longer enforce the chamber’s informal dress code for its members. The new policy allows Senator Fetterman to elevate his dress code above the business attire traditionally required in the chamber.

If Schumer gets out and changes a longstanding tradition for him, perhaps Fetterman can use his goodwill and influence on behalf of the cannabis industry. Fetterman has been a supporter of legal marijuana for years. In one of his campaign videos, he explains that he was one of the first politicians to express his support for the drug. “And now, years later, I am renewing the same call for a number of reasons, but primarily for criminal justice reasons,” he said.

Photo by Bill Ingalls-NASA via Getty Images

The reaction to the dress code change has been both surprise and disappointment, as a bar was eliminated for modesty reasons and the dress code is now no different than at a local gas station.

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who recently voted to legalize marijuana, is disappointed. She argues that the relaxed rules degrade the institution of the Senate. “I plan on wearing a bikini in the Senate tomorrow,” Collins joked. Collins joined SAFE Banking as legal cannabis in Maine has become a major industry and source of government revenue.

Fetterman could use his influence with the SAFE Banking Act. After seven passes in the House, it’s a groundhog day of failure in the Senate. According to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, it was announced today that the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2023 (S. 1323/HR 2891) will be implemented in the U.S. Senate. The committee confirmed on September 19th that the SAFE Banking Act would be presented in person on September 27th.

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Fetterman released a statement during his campaign urging Biden to give up marijuana. Now he has the opportunity to lead change that increases government revenue, advocates for public safety and creates jobs across the country. It seems Biden was not pleased.

Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Fetterman has been a supporter of legal marijuana throughout his term. In one of his campaign videos, he explains that he was one of the first politicians to express his support for the drug. “And now, five years later, I am renewing the same call for a number of reasons, but above all because of the criminal law aspect,” he said.

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With the relaxed rules, he may now be able to identify senators from legal weed states like Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to sign on as co-sponsors and on their behalf advertise votes.