Democrats face recriminations as marijuana banking bill splits legalization groups

The imminent House passage of historic legislation to allow banks to serve marijuana businesses is splitting marijuana advocates, some of whom argue that the vote will slow the broader push to legalize weed.

Multiple civil rights groups told the Washington Examiner that they were blindsided by House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters’ decision to advance the banking bill, the SAFE Banking Act, sponsored by Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, because her staff had promised that it wouldn’t move ahead of a more comprehensive bill to decriminalize marijuana, the MORE Act, sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler.

“She went back on her word,” said Queen Adesuyi, policy coordinator for the Drug Policy Alliance.