420 with CNW — US Congress Passes Marijuana Banking Bill
Earlier this week, Congress approved the SAFE Banking Act, a law that would make it possible for financial institutions such as banks to conduct business with cannabis companies that are licensed in states which allow marijuana for either recreational or medical use, or both. This law is intended to remove the fear banks have of being penalized by federal authorities since marijuana is currently illegal at the federal level.
The legislators in the House of Representatives passed the bill in a 321-101 vote, and now the bill will be sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
The bill provides clarification that any proceeds generated by duly licensed cannabis firms within states with enabling cannabis laws shouldn’t be looked at as illegal, and the law instructs federal regulatory agencies to draft appropriate guidelines through which such banking activities could be overseen at a national level.
Generally, banks have been hesitant to transact business with entities that sell cannabis or cannabis-related products. This reluctance has been based on the fear of being found in transgression of federal regulations.
Consequently, businesses in the cannabis industry were left with limited options for financial transactions. They had to do business with smaller financial institutions (i.e., credit unions, for instance) or were forced to transact in cash. Analysts say this lack of collaboration with banks has held the development of this industry in jurisdictions where it is legal.
Several banking associations have lobbied endlessly for the passing of the proposed SAFE Banking Act. In their view, banks have been put in a difficult position of having to listen to the calls of state regulators asking banks to accept cannabis industry clients while fearing federal regulators who regard marijuana as a highly controlled substance that shouldn’t be available for use.
By urging Congress to act on this legal conundrum, banking companies hope to get a definitive legal position upon which to decide whether or not to do business with state-legal marijuana companies. At the moment, 36 states have systems in place to regulate medical marijuana operators while 17 states have permitted the recreational use of cannabis.
The bill will now head to the Senate where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has severally expressed his support for the cannabis banking bill as well as other policy reforms with respect to marijuana. He even went on to say that the legislative chamber is ready to move forward regardless of the President’s views on the matter.
If this SAFE Banking bill is finally enacted into law, marijuana sector players such as Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) will have one less hurdle to face as they go about their state-legal activities.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GPFT
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
Earlier this week, Congress approved the SAFE Banking Act, a law that would make it possible for financial institutions such as banks to conduct business with cannabis companies that are licensed in states which allow marijuana for either recreational or medical use, or both. This law is intended to remove the fear banks have of being penalized by federal authorities since marijuana is currently illegal at the federal level.
The legislators in the House of Representatives passed the bill in a 321-101 vote, and now the bill will be sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
The bill provides clarification that any proceeds generated by duly licensed cannabis firms within states with enabling cannabis laws shouldn’t be looked at as illegal, and the law instructs federal regulatory agencies to draft appropriate guidelines through which such banking activities could be overseen at a national level.
Generally, banks have been hesitant to transact business with entities that sell cannabis or cannabis-related products. This reluctance has been based on the fear of being found in transgression of federal regulations.
Consequently, businesses in the cannabis industry were left with limited options for financial transactions. They had to do business with smaller financial institutions (i.e., credit unions, for instance) or were forced to transact in cash. Analysts say this lack of collaboration with banks has held the development of this industry in jurisdictions where it is legal.
Several banking associations have lobbied endlessly for the passing of the proposed SAFE Banking Act. In their view, banks have been put in a difficult position of having to listen to the calls of state regulators asking banks to accept cannabis industry clients while fearing federal regulators who regard marijuana as a highly controlled substance that shouldn’t be available for use.
By urging Congress to act on this legal conundrum, banking companies hope to get a definitive legal position upon which to decide whether or not to do business with state-legal marijuana companies. At the moment, 36 states have systems in place to regulate medical marijuana operators while 17 states have permitted the recreational use of cannabis.
The bill will now head to the Senate where Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has severally expressed his support for the cannabis banking bill as well as other policy reforms with respect to marijuana. He even went on to say that the legislative chamber is ready to move forward regardless of the President’s views on the matter.
If this SAFE Banking bill is finally enacted into law, marijuana sector players such as Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) will have one less hurdle to face as they go about their state-legal activities.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GPFT
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
