Marijuana reform must include criminal justice provisions
Schumer pushes for marijuana criminal justice reform
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), the man who controls what gets voted on in the Senate, again argued last week in a Senate speech that it is critical to add criminal justice reform provisions to a bipartisan marijuana banking bill.
Schumer noted the reintroduction of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (S.1323), legislation that would “enable cannabis businesses to access critical banking infrastructure.”
“Just last week, the [Senate Banking Committee] held its first hearing on this legislation,” he said, “And I will also work to make sure we include critical criminal justice provisions to SAFE Banking.”
Schumer intends to schedule a committee vote in the near future to discuss proposed additions.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who is a lead sponsor of the House version of the SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891) and chair of the Senate Cannabis Caucus, said at a recent press briefing that advocates and lawmakers should “align” on any incremental proposals to end the drug war.
