Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) says that ongoing marijuana banking issues under prohibition amount to a “cannabis crisis,” and while he thinks there’s still a shot to enact reform with Republicans in control of the House, he’s underscoring the challenges of the new political dynamic on Capitol Hill.
Advocates and stakeholders remain frustrated that Congress was unable to pass a marijuana banking bill and other modest reforms last session when Democrats held majorities in both chambers. But eyes are now turned to what’s achievable in the 118th Congress.
Booker told NJ.com that it’s his “intention to try to drive it as far as we can go, but the dynamics have shifted pretty dramatically” with the House flip. He said enacting reform is “definitely going to be harder, but not impossible.”
“I do think there’s a chance. Remember there’s always been a good bipartisan coalition of people that want to do something,” the senator said. “The urgencies that pushed us towards some kind of partnership are still there, on the business side as well as the restorative justice side.”
Booker has faced particular criticism from certain stakeholders over how his position on banking legislation has evolved, with the senator at one point
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