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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.