GOP House Committee’s Lifts D.C. Cannabis Sales Ban In 2025 Spending Bill, Adds Federal Bank Safeguards
A GOP House committee has introduced a spending bill that removes the longstanding prohibition on Washington, D.C. from legalizing recreational cannabis sales. The House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee initiative also introduces new safeguards for banks engaging with state-legal cannabis businesses.
2025 Spending Bill: A Major Shift For Cannabis?
The fiscal year 2025 spending bill, presented on Tuesday, marks a notable departure from previous sessions. Spearheading this change is Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and the primary advocate for bipartisan cannabis banking reform. Joyce’s leadership has seen the exclusion of the rider that barred D.C. from using local funds to regulate recreational cannabis, a provision championed by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) in prior years.
Notably, President Joe Biden’s administration had consistently maintained this ban, making its removal in a GOP-led …