We are in a time of unprecedented growth and rapid change for the cannabis industry across the U.S. As we look ahead at issues in the law at both the Oregon state and federal levels, here are five changes we see on the horizon.
1. Access to Banking.
Limited access to financial institutions creates a sub-optimal business model for cannabis businesses and fuels public safety concerns. The SAFE Banking Act would prevent federal banking regulators from punishing banks for working with cannabis related businesses that are obeying state laws. As of March 2019, the House Finance Committee voted to pass the bill to the House floor, with advocates predicting a floor vote in May. With strong bipartisan support and over 150 co-sponsors to date, the bill is expected to pass in the House and advocates are hopeful this support will put pressure on the Senate to pass the bill as well.