February, 2021
Democratic Leaders Say They Plan to Prioritize Legalization in 2021
Several Congressional lawmakers leading marijuana reform announced in early February that the new Democratic Senate will prioritize righting the wrongs created by poor legislation and The War on Drugs, aim to reform public health protection measures and implement responsible taxes and regulations.
In the following weeks, several legislation drafts were revealed to start the conversation about what the federal policy changes will look like. The unified discussions not only aim to remedy the failures of The War on Drugs, but also to support people who were unfairly targeted. Many lawmakers and citizens agree that to address the racial inequality crisis in the United States, ‘outdated and dangerous’ legislation must come to an end.
The House Intends to Reintroduce the MORE Act
The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act will end federal prohibition and promote social equality if passed. It passed the Chamber last year but did not advance through the Senate.
March 2021
Senate Leaders Draft Bill to Stop Major Alcohol and Tobacco Companies from Dominating Marijuana Market
The discussion around this bill instead aimed to prioritize small businesses and businesses in communities of color, and other communities most impacted by failed marijuana law.
Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act Reintroduced
The SAFE Bill’s purpose is to protect banks that service state-legal marijuana businesses from federal penalties. It was first introduced in 2019 and passed the House with large bipartisan support but didn’t get past the Republican ruled Senate.
Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana (CLAIM) Act Refiled
Currently, marijuana companies are largely restricted in their property transactions, casualty and ability to obtain insurance coverage. This reintroduced bill would give state-legal marijuana businesses better access to insurance coverage as well as protect the companies that offer the coverage from being federally penalized. It would also prevent insurers from terminating or limiting policies for marijuana companies or ancillary businesses due to the nature of their enterprise.
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