House Rules Committee Blocks FY19 Marijuana Amendments

Originally published at blog.NORML.org

Late Monday night, the House Rules Committee led by prohibitionist Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) blocked two amendments related to marijuana from receiving consideration by the full House, thus ending their consideration and silencing the ability for the lower chamber to offer protections from Attorney General Jeff Sessions when it comes to cannabis.

The amendments included allowing the District of Columbia to implement adult-use sales program, originally passed by voters in 2014, and protections for banks to provide services to marijuana businesses.

In a release sent out earlier today containing the testimony by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the Congresswoman stated:

The banking amendment was introduced by Rep Denny Heck (D-WA), who Marijuana Moment first reported as testifying:

Earlier in the year, the Senate included existing protections for medical marijuana programs in the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee passed an identical amendment offered by Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) meaning that the language will be considered in a conference committee and likely stay in effect.

This was not the first time the Republican Congressman Pete Sessions, who is known to steer the Rules Committee with an iron fist, blocked marijuana-related amendments.

He is currently being challenged by former NFL player Colin Allred. You can find out more about Allred’s campaign here.

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