The House Republican Policy Committee is advising GOP lawmakers to oppose legislation that would give cannabis businesses access to banking services, writing in a policy guide that marijuana is a “gateway drug” that leads to “violence, depression and suicide.” The guidance from the panel advises Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives to vote against the Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would give state-legal marijuana businesses access to traditional banking services including payroll accounts and credit processing services.
The advice was released as a policy guide to advise House GOP members on marijuana issues that was posted to the policy committee’s website late last month. The guidance, which was covered by cannabis news source Marijuana Moment on Monday, also encourages House Republicans to oppose separate legislation that would remove prior cannabis use as a barrier to federal jobs and security clearances. The document begins with a swipe at cannabis policy reform efforts, which have been largely led by Democrats.
Marijuana Policy Guide“During the 2020 presidential campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris stated that marijuana brings people joy, and there needs to be more joy in the world,” the policy guide begins. “Unless joy is connected to violence, depression, and suicide, Harris is mistaken. Recent studies have revealed that marijuana is not the safe and harmless drug it is portrayed as, and the high percentage of potency in marijuana has greatly contributed to that.”
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