Sen. Sherrod Brown, Praised For Cannabis Banking Reform, Undecided Over Home State's Legalization Initiative

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is dutifully working on the bipartisan cannabis banking bill in Congress, but it seems he’s still lukewarm on a marijuana legalization initiative up for a vote in his home state.

Following the successful scheduling the Congressional markup for the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Act for Sept. 27, Brown told WOSU that he wasn’t sure yet how he’d vote in Ohio's legalization bid. 

"I've been focused on trying to stop the extremists in the House from a government shutdown, worked on the FEND Off Fentanyl and RECOUP Act and this rail bill. But I will, in the next couple, three weeks, really sit down and read it and figure out what to do."

Republican Colleagues Divided On The Issue 

Brown’s Republican colleague Rep. Dave Joyce, co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus who attended the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago last year, is in favor of Ohio’s legalization ballot, ending federal cannabis prohibition and, like Brown, a staunch advocate for cannabis banking. 

Then there’s Ohio Governor Mike DeWine who has called legalizing adult-use cannabis a mistake because it is so darned potent.

“It's not your grandfather's marijuana or your grandmother's marijuana," the governor said.

DeWine and Senate president Matt Huffman (R) and other mostly GOP colleagues have implied that they could easily overturn the ballot results if it passes, which is a strong possibility if a July USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll is to be believed: Nearly 59% percent of Ohioans support legalized cannabis. 

Not A Wise Idea To Repeal A Popular Vote 

Republican state Rep. Jamie Callender, who supports the legalization initiative, says it would be "politically ill-advised" to overturn the will of the people.

"There are a number of legislators who have publicly commented that they will block marijuana in any way they can and that could possibly mean overturning the will of the voters," Callender said. 

If passed, the statute would legalize, regulate and tax adult-use marijuana in addition to Ohio's current medical cannabis program. The vote for the initiative, led by the Coalition To Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol will take place on Nov. 7.

Want to join the conversation about cannabis legalization in this important Midwestern state? Then join us at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago on September 27 and 28. All information is available on bzcannabis.com