GOP Congressman Confirms Upcoming Vote On Bipartisan Bill To End Pot-Related Ban Of Fed Workers

James Comer (R), a chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee said late Friday that a vote on the Cannabis Users’ Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act will take place this Wednesday.

The bipartisan bill, CURE Act was introduced by Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamin Raskin and co-sponsored by South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace (R) in July. According to Raskin, the legislation aims to “eliminate the draconian, failed and obsolete marijuana policies that prevent talented individuals from becoming honorable public servants in their government,” reported Marijuana Moment.

“Every year, qualified and dedicated individuals seeking to serve our country are unable to secure federal jobs and security clearances because the federal government has not caught up with the widely established legal use of medical and recreational cannabis,” Raskin also said at the time.

Under the proposed legislation, in one year of enactment, all federal agencies must review all prior decisions to deny security clearances or job opportunities over marijuana consumption going back to January 2008. Agencies need to enable individuals to review a decision in their case, and if marijuana use was the only reason for denial the agency must “reconsider such individual’s security clearance or employment application.”

Another important consideration for marijuana reform, the Senate Banking Committee will hold a markup of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act on Wednesday, Sep. 27.

See also: It's Official: Senate Committee Schedules Cannabis Banking Vote For Sept. 27 After Years Of Delay

The date matches up with that of one of the biggest marijuana conferences in the world - the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, which is returning to Chicago on September 27-28, following its spectacularly successful April event in Miami.

This means that the congressional committee vote will be discussed quickly by many respectable industry professionals and marijuana advocates, including important political figures like Ed Perlmutter, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who pushed for the SAFE Banking Act many times.

Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference

The Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, the place where deals get done, is returning to Chicago this September 27-28 for its 17th edition. Get your tickets today before prices increase and secure a spot at the epicenter of cannabis investment and branding.

Photo: Courtesy of Vojtech Okenka via Pexels