7.22.25 - Banking on Integrity: Our Response to the House CJS Bill and Cannabis Rescheduling

By Alan Gaul, VP of Marketing & Brand, TASI Bank

On July 15, the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS), and Related Agencies advanced a bill that would prohibit the Department of Justice from using funds to reschedule or deschedule cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. If enacted, this provision could delay the ongoing federal push to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III—a reclassification that would bring practical relief and recognition to a legal, regulated, and rapidly maturing industry.

At TASI Bank, we’ve spent the past ten years walking alongside cannabis operators, not waiting for legislation to catch up but building real banking solutions that support their compliance, growth, and legitimacy. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when clarity is delayed, when policy gets politicized, and when the businesses creating jobs and tax revenue are left in regulatory limbo.

We also know what it means to stay the course—because that’s what we do.

“This bank was built on service and trust—two things that can’t wait for legislation to catch up,” says Dave Joves, President of TASI Bank. “Our cannabis banking clients are some of the most diligent, community-minded business owners we work with. They deserve a financial partner who treats them with the same respect and care we offer every industry.”

This proposed restriction on DOJ funding is not new. And while it may not survive through final negotiations—as similar efforts have failed in the past—it’s another reminder that progress in this industry doesn’t move in a straight line. But our commitment does.

“Banking cannabis means navigating a landscape that changes every election cycle,” says Hitesh Bajaria, Regional Vice President. “But our philosophy is simple: we bank people, not politics. We believe in long-term relationships built on clarity, compliance, and consistency.”

We’re also mindful that the bill preserved an important protection: the longstanding rider that blocks DOJ funds from being used to target medical marijuana patients and businesses that comply with state law. That rider has been a critical safeguard since FY2015, and its continuation reflects the bipartisan understanding that patients and licensed providers should not be criminalized for following state-sanctioned medical programs.

“At TASI Bank, our clients know we’re here for the long haul. We bank cannabis with the same diligence, compliance oversight, and attention to detail as any other regulated industry,” says Shirley Quitugua, VP and Branch Operations Manager. “We don’t get distracted by political swings—we stay focused on operational excellence.”

To the cannabis entrepreneurs navigating these latest developments, know this: your efforts matter. Your perseverance matters. And your work continues to shape the future of a legal market that has already demonstrated its value to public health, local economies, and social equity.

TASI Bank will continue to show up, advocate, and serve—regardless of whether cannabis is Schedule I or Schedule III. Because for us, banking cannabis was never about what’s trending in Washington. It’s about what’s right for our communities.

Learn more about how TASI Bank supports the cannabis industry at https://tasi.bank/420-business-banking-lending