Senate Appropriations Committee Allows Marijuana Legalization to Move Forward in Nation’s Capital

Also Votes to Allow Banks to Provide Services to State-Legalized Marijuana Stores

WASHINGTON, DC — A key Senate committee passed a bill today allowing the nation’s capital to establish regulated marijuana stores and to let banks provide financial services to state-legalized marijuana dispensaries.

These are just two of several marijuana reforms advancing in Congress.  Meanwhile, sentencing reform is gaining steam, and the U.S. is shifting towards treating drug use as a health issue instead of a criminal justice issue.

“The stage has been set to end the federal government’s failed war on marijuana,” said Michael Collins, policy manager at Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs. “A bi-partisan consensus has emerged in favor of reform.”

Last November nearly 72% of…