Pubdate: Wed, 17 Sep 2014
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2014 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Stephen Ohlemacher, The Associated Press
Webpage: B3

'NO WELFARE FOR WEED' MEASURE CLEARS HOUSE; REICHERT MAIN SPONSOR

WASHINGTON (AP)- The U.S. House passed a bill Tuesday that could make 
it a little harder for people to use government welfare payments to 
buy marijuana in states where it's legal.

Supporters call it the "no welfare for weed" bill.

The bill would prevent people from using government-issued welfare 
debit cards to make purchases at stores that sell marijuana.

It would also prohibit people from using the cards to withdraw cash 
from ATMs in those stores.

U.S. law already prevents people from using welfare debit cards at 
liquor stores, casinos and strip clubs.

Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, is the main sponsor of the bill. He 
said it is a logical extension of existing law now that Washington 
and Colorado have legalized recreational marijuana.

"The fact that some people are using welfare for weed is outrageous," 
Reichert said in a statement.

"While some may decide to spend their own money on drugs, we're not 
going to give them a taxpayer subsidy to do it."

The reach of the bill would be limited, however, because pot smokers 
could still use their benefit cards to get cash from an ATM at a 
different store or bank, and then use the money to buy marijuana.

About 3.6 million families receive cash benefits under the Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families program, according to the Health and 
Human Services Department. That includes about 99,000 in Washington.

Payments are loaded on debit cards known as electronic benefit 
transfer cards. They can be used to get cash at ATMs.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., raised the issue of using the cards to 
buy marijuana in April, when he sent a letter to HHS asking whether 
the department could prevent transactions at stores that sell marijuana.

HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell responded in July that HHS has 
no such authority.

Sessions has promised to introduce a Senate bill similar to the House 
legislation.

But with Congress rushing to go home as early as this week to 
campaign for congressional elections in November, the bill is 
unlikely to reach President Obama's desk this year.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom