Why the most pro-marijuana Congress ever won’t deal with weed
Two-thirds of Americans support legalization, but legislation seems to be going nowhere fast on Capitol Hill. This could be a big moment for marijuana and Congress, but Democrats are fighting Democrats over whether to focus on social justice issues or industry priorities like banking.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The central tension in the House is how much emphasis should be put on full marijuana legalization versus single-issue bills that address industry concerns.
- The bill with the best chance of being enacted — the SAFE Banking Act, was predicted for passage before the August break, but it didn’t happen.
- Even if House Democrats can overcome their differences— it will face a treacherous path in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has shown zero interest in doing anything to make it easier for marijuana companies to do business.
