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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, A total of 37 states, four U.S. territories, and
3the District of Columbia have allowed for the medical use of
4cannabis products; 27 states and the District of Columbia have
5decriminalized small amounts of marijuana; 18 states, two U.S.
6territories, and the District of Columbia have enacted
7legislation to regulate cannabis for nonmedical, adult use;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, In the enactment of legislation allowing for the
10use of cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes, states
11have provided for the regulation and taxation of the use of
12cannabis; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the
14federal Controlled Substances Act, classifying it among the
15most dangerous drugs in the Act; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Alcohol and tobacco remain outside the purview of
17the federal Controlled Substances Act and have significant
18negative impacts on individual and public health, including
19physical injuries, psychological and social harm, and the
20onset of chronic, often fatal illnesses related to regular
21use; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Continued scheduling of cannabis under the
2federal Controlled Substances Act hinders the ability of
3medical cannabis dispensaries and other cannabis-related
4businesses to operate without the prospect of federal
5seizures, forfeitures, arrests, and other enforcement and
6prosecutorial actions; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Such hindrance creates a problem for medical
8cannabis dispensaries and cannabis-related businesses that are
9operating legally pursuant to state law and presents
10difficulties for consumers or businesses that are authorized
11to grow, sell, or purchase cannabis products under state law;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Many financial institutions have been unable to
14do business with cannabis-related businesses because of
15existing federal law and policies; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Many cannabis-related businesses rely upon cash
17transactions, which increases the risk of various crimes and
18prohibits the collection of taxes by individual states and
19territories; and
 
20    WHEREAS, In the interest of promoting efficient business
21practices, financial institutions should be confident in
22serving businesses operating legally under state law so long

 

 

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1as safety and soundness requirements are met; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Legislation has been introduced in Congress to
3provide for specific regulatory protection and immunity from
4federal prosecution for depository institutions providing
5financial services to cannabis-related businesses acting under
6applicable state law; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Maintaining business relationships with financial
8institutions will allow for greater access to loans and debit
9and credit transactions for businesses serving the cannabis
10industry, for their employees, and for consumers purchasing
11cannabis legally under state law; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we urge the United States Congress to enact legislation
15removing cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act
16(CSA), exempting certain activities related to marijuana,
17facilitating the full spectrum of private banking services for
18cannabis-related business, and encouraging scientific research
19as related to cannabis products in the United States; and be it
20further
 
21    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
22delivered to the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois,

 

 

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1Doctors For Cannabis Regulation, the Drug Policy Alliance, the
2National Cannabis Industry Association, and the Minority
3Cannabis Business Association.