There is a new Senate bill called the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion,and Respect States (CARERS) Act that was proposed Tuesday. The medical marijuana bill is set to change the way the federal government classifies and treats medical marijuana use.Senators responsible for the bills introduction are Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rand Paul (R-KY). It's important to note that the bill would not make cannabis legal across America, rather its' aim is to "defog" the air around the use of medical marijuana at the federal level.According to Senator Gillibrand, the CARERS Act "would recognize that marijuana has accepted medical uses, and would recognize the will of voters in 23 states that have decided that denying families access is wrong." Sen. Gillibrand went on to say, "The bipartisan bill would finally allow patients and families, including veterans, in those 23 states to access medical care without fear of prosecution."Policy Manager for the Drug Policy Alliance Michael Collins stated, "Almost half the states have legalized marijuana for medical use; it's long past time to end the federal ban."Banking Business On WeedThe medical and recreational marijuana industry is the fastest-growing industry in the United States, and the overwhelming majority of the over $1 billion in annual revenue is brought in by state-legal medical marijuana programs.Order off the KFC green menuUnfortunately, banks have not been helpful to the industries businesses. In fact, banks have made it very difficult on recreational and medical marijuana dispensary owners by refusing to do business with them, putting dispensary owners and their employees at risk.Whom do criminals target? They target businesses and individuals known to have large amounts of cash on hand at any given time. On the bright side Legislation would expand banking access for medical marijuana businesses, enabling them to operate largely like traditional businesses.The bill will also:Change marijuana from a Schedule I narcotic to a Schedule II drugMake marijuana much easier to dispenseReduce federal government's ability to harass state-legal medical marijuana programsEase restrictions on researchProtect doctors, patients, and businesses from federal prosecutionGives states the ability to set their own medical marijuana policiesProtect states' rights that choose to legalizeProtect states' rights that have already legalizedAllow for VA doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their veteran patients suffering from certain conditionsThis is great news but there is a lot of work ahead for advocates."We're going to approach all our colleagues," Gillibrand said during the press conference. "This is the first step of a long process of advocacy."What's your position on the medical marijuana industry? Leave your reply in the comments below & reblog.
