100 of 100 US senators on marijuana, SAFER Banking Act
Exclusive interviews with each US senator on the SAFER Banking Act (118th Congress)
WASHINGTON — In 2019, the SAFE Banking Act — which allows locally-legal cannabis companies to access the US financial system — sailed through the House of Representatives by a lopsided vote of 321-103. But the broadly bipartisan measure was never brought up for a vote in the US Senate.
In the 118th Congress, the Senate Banking Committee updated and then passed the SAFER Banking Act — which expands protections for marijuana businesses across the federal government, among other add-ons — but because outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer never brought the measure before the entire Senate, many senators never studied the bill.
“Because the bill never hit the floor,” Ask a Pol pressed retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), “you never had to make up your mind and study it?”
“No,” Manchin exclusively told Ask a Pol. “I haven't seen it. I don’t know that it was brought to my attention.”
ICYMI — 16 senators undecided on SAFER Banking Act
Manchin’s far from alone. Even sponsors of the SAFE Banking Act told Ask a Pol they didn’t know anything about the new SAFER Banking Act.
“I don’t know what that is,” Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) exclusively told Ask a Pol. “I haven’t seen that one yet.”
Contrary to what other news outlets have reported, in exclusive interviews with all 100 US senators throughout 2024, Ask a Pol found 16 senators remain undecided on the SAFER Banking Act, including many Democrats — like New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan — whose support is seen as essential for passage.
SNEAK PEAK: Ask a Pol exclusives coming with all 100 senators in new, 119th Congress on the SAFER Banking Act.
Below find a searchable database and downloadable PDF of where the United States Senate stands on the banking measure the cannabis industry has been clamoring for.
Stay tuned throughout 2025 for our latest exclusives from the US Capitol, including our new tally sheet of where all 100 US senators in the new 119th Congress stand on SAFER. And also updates on whether incoming Majority Leader John Thune — who exclusively told us, “I’m not a fan” of SAFER — will allow the marijuana measure to move in his Senate.
All 100 US senator’s stances on SAFER Banking Act
ICYMI — New day for cannabis on Capitol Hill?
Below find Ask a Pol’s exclusive searchable database and downloadable PDF of all 100 US senators on the SAFER Banking Act.
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Downloadable PDF: 100 US senator’s on SAFER
LJ Dawson contributed to this reporting.
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Kickass reporting, per usual, Matt! Thank you and happiest of new years to you and your team!