Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, a Republican, has joined forces with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, to make marijuana legal at the federal level in states that have approved its use for recreational or medical purposes. It would not legalize the drug in any states that prohibit it. Gardner and Warren say the bill is needed because the conflict between federal and state laws is creating a host of problems. They say one major problem is the fact that most banks won’t handle money from cannabis-related businesses. That means pot shops have to operate on a cash basis, a dangerous practice.
The legislation has attracted several additional co-sponsors but is expected to face an uphill battle.
