U.S. Issues Marijuana Guidelines for Banks

[Source: NY Times]

The Obama administration on Friday issued guidelines intended to give banks confidence that they will not be punished if they provide services to legitimate marijuana businesses in states that have legalized the medical or recreational use of the drug, even though it remains illicit under federal law.

The guidance, which requires banks to vigorously monitor their marijuana-industry customers, was provided by the Treasury Department and the Justice Department in separate advisories. The policy does not grant immunity from prosecution or civil penalties to banks that serve legal marijuana businesses. But it directs prosecutors and regulators to give priority to cases only where financial institutions have failed to adhere to the guidance. 

Still, the banking industry was quick to say that the new guidelines would not be sufficient to make banks feel at ease about opening accounts for or granting loans to marijuana businesses because the drug would still be illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. 

Continue reading the main story

Past Related Articles:

 - Legal Marijuana Businesses Should Have Access to Banks, Holder Says

 - Banks Say No to Marijuana Money, Legal or Not

Get on Board! TV spots pitch medical marijuana..

[Source: USAToday]

Late-night TV, which has enticed us with hard-sell offers for the amazing Ginsu knife and equally incredible hair loss remedies, now has another offer some can't refuse: a way to get medical marijuana.

Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, has agreed to run an ad on its local cable systems in New Jersey, Massachusetts and greater Chicago that promote a service that links people seeking legal medical marijuana with doctors able to prescribe it.

The campaign is one of the first examples — possibly the first — of commercial broadcast advertising related to marijuana. The ads begin airing this month in New Jersey and will start next month in the other media markets.

Read more: TV Ads target Medical Marijuana

House Resolution 1635 - the National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy Act of 2013

[Source: Jennifer Huizen, Marijuanadoctors411.com]

Congressmen last week introduced House Resolution 1635 - the National Commission on Federal Marijuana Policy Act of 2013 – which lays out terms for a 13-member committee consisting of ‘weed experts’ who will work together with government aid to review “the state and efficacy of current policies of the Federal Government toward marijuana.” Among other topics, the committee will focus their time on exploring how federal policy should act in conjunction with State law, the cost of prohibiting marijuana versus the potential tax benefits of legalization, the health impacts of marijuana, and the role of the current legal system in furthering improper or excessive marijuana prosecution. The committee will also rework the Controlled Substances Act, recommending “appropriate placement of marijuana in the schedule of the [federal] Controlled Substances Act,” in hopes of redefining marijuana from the same classification as heroin.

<<<Time to talk Federally continued>>>

Ask your U.S. representative to cosponsor H.R. 1523, the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act!

via The Marijuana Policy Project: There is big news in the halls of Congress! A new bipartisan bill would modify the federal Controlled Substances Act so that anyone acting in compliance with a state marijuana law would be immune from federal prosecution.

That’s right. The federal Controlled Substances Act simply would not apply to marijuana users, dispensary operators, and other individuals who have been courageous enough to help take marijuana production and sales above ground into state-regulated markets. Click here to urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act.

We would like to thank Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) for his leadership on this bill. It presents a perfect opportunity for members to embrace the notion that states should be able to devise systems for regulating marijuana without their citizens having to worry about breaking federal law.

The goal is to have this bill be truly bipartisan, so it is being introduced with three Republicans (Reps. Rohrabacher, Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), and Don Young (R-AK)) and three Democrats (Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Jared Polis (D-CO)). In order to build up the list of co-sponsors, we need you to make your voice heard.

Please use our online action center to urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor the Respect State Marijuana Laws Act. Just two minutes of your time will make a big difference. And please don’t forget to share this email with friends and family so that they can take action too.

ACT NOW!!!