WHEELING, W.Va. — Delegate Shawn Fluharty is skeptical medical marijuana will be available to West Virginia residents by the planned July 1 rollout date, and so is the State Office of Medical Cannabis.
A smoldering problem is that federally chartered banks in West Virginia are reluctant to accept any money derived from marijuana products for fear of breaking federal laws, although officials with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office have yet to prosecute for any of these transactions. As options, West Virginia could start its own bank to facilitate cannabis-related transactions, or the state could institute a system for payments to be made within a closed-loop network, according to an opinion by state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey released Jan. 11.
Related video from the West Virginia Press Association:
The West Virginia Legislature is considering legislation to solve the banking issue by using a network of banks. The measure is being first considered in the House of Delegates. Fluharty, D-Ohio, serves as minority vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
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