Negotiations over provisions that would allow cannabis companies to access banking services were among the sticking points holding up the release of the fiscal 2023 defense reauthorization bill text Tuesday, senators said.
A group of Senate Democrats wants to include provisions that would support those harmed by federal drug laws to any language that would open banking services up to the cannabis industry. Meanwhile, prominent Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, criticized Democrats for trying to include the banking provisions in the defense bill at all.
Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, declined to discuss the specific stipulations they want attached to provisions that would allow bank access for cannabis companies to win their support, citing ongoing negotiations. However, Brown said negotiations were coming down to those extra provisions.
