Any cannabis legislation will face tough odds, but the bills introduced cater specifically to the GOP majorities.
Five months into the current Congress, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have introduced a wide range of cannabis-related bills. But none of them are going to move soon, and it may take a few tricks on the part of Republican supporters — and intervention from President Donald Trump — to have any hope of getting them over the finish line…
“It is a less than ringing endorsement of the SAFE Banking Act’s political potential and viability that Sen. Daines has decided not to introduce it again … at the peak of what should be his political influence after retaking the Senate,” said Jordan Davidson, government affairs director at anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
Davidson says SAM is not deeply concerned about States 2.0 or cannabis banking legislation moving in this Congress, in large part because of the problems Republicans currently have in passing even legislation that they seemingly all agree on, like cutting the budget.
Key GOP lawmakers don’t necessarily disagree with that assessment — at least at the moment.