WASHINGTON, D.C. — Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) applauds the House Appropriations Committee for continuing to show incredible leadership in the fight for evidence-based public health policy.
The Committee voted to advance a key SAM priority in its markup Wednesday. Language blocking the sale of recreational marijuana in our nation’s capital—the so-called Harris Rider—was included in the bill’s base text. Additionally, the bill notably omits language identical in effect to the so-called SAFE Banking Act, a law that would supercharge the addiction industry by granting weed profiteers access to the financial system free from federal penalty. Last Congress, SAFE Banking-like provisions were included in the initial draft of the House FSGG bill while the Harris Rider was excluded. This year, the Committee reversed course entirely.
“This is a double win for science and America,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, CEO of SAM. “Committee Chair Rep. Tom Cole continues to stand as a friend to public health and safety.
“Both the inclusion of the Harris Rider blocking recreational sales in D.C. and the removal of dangerous language that would have created a financial haven for an industry profiting from the destruction of public health will help keep kids, families, and communities safe in our nation’s capital and across the country.
“Big Marijuana has been spending big bucks on its policy priorities, reminding America that addiction for profit is just about that: profit, not people or equity or justice. The American people aren’t buying it and neither are their elected representatives.”
The Labor, Health, and Human Services Subcommittee also advanced key public-health priorities in its vote, including regular provisions that forbid spending federal money on promoting the legalization of Schedule I substances like marijuana and on dangerous injection sites where Schedule I substances are consumed.
Sabet added: “Thanks are due to Subcommittee Chair Rep. Robert Aderholt for his amazing leadership in fighting to keep in place these important safeguards around dangerous drugs. Real harm reduction ends with recovery—not the constant cycle of overdose and access to more drugs.
“The right policy literally saves lives; it’s great to see congressional leadership understanding where we need to go.”
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