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Next Month, Fourth Corner Credit Union Will Get Its Day in Court

By Mark Goldfogel

On Dec. 28, 2015, The Fourth Corner Credit Union will have its day in court.

As a defense to the lawsuit, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City argues this case is about the federal illegality of cannabis, but it is not. The lawsuit involves the legal issue of whether all federal and state chartered financial institutions have equal access to the federal payments system.

The lawsuit raises the question, can the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, an independent Reserve Bank that is not a federal agency, nullify a Colorado state charter? I believe law and common sense will prevail.

It is often said that 24 states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized some form of marijuana consumption, but when you expand the discussion to include hemp, you expand the number of states in opposition to the Schedule 1 status of cannabis to 43!

For eight years, I have watched the systematic dismantling of cannabis prohibition. I am convinced that senior members of all political parties now realize the war on cannabis is misguided.

Denying access creates an unsafe business environment

This country has billions of dollars being transacted in this highly-regulated state-licensed industry. Denying these state-licensed businesses and their vendors transparent access to banking creates an unsafe environment for everyone.

It is the prohibition on banking, not the Cannabis Industry, that is enabling dangerous practices to continue. Additionally, this practice promotes a de-facto limitation on the tax revenue that is collected.

There are a small subset of banks and credit unions that have opened a limited number of accounts for marijuana businesses “under the radar.” For most businesses, however, working directly or indirectly in the industry is sufficient grounds for bank accounts to be closed without an opportunity for discussion or appeal.

That is why a credit union like Fourth Corner is necessary to provide banking services this social movement.

The Fourth Corner Credit Union was granted a charter by the State of Colorado to serve legalization supporters and compliant state-licensed businesses in accordance with formal guidance on marijuana banking adopted by five federal executive agencies. We believe the Monetary Control Act of 1980 requires that the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City provide all federal or state chartered financial institutions equal access to the federal payments system.

The Federal Reserve CANNOT pick and choose

A Federal Reserve Bank does not have unfettered discretion to pick and chose which financial institutions it provides access to the essential electronic payment system it controls. Absolute control creates a monopolistic environment that has caused unfairness and disruption of our financial system in the past.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City argues that Colorado’s sovereign act of chartering The Fourth Corner Credit Union to organize legalization supporters is akin to Colorado enacting “a scheme to allow trade with North Korea in derogation of federal laws.”

The comparison of a social movement using democratic means to end prohibition with a communist dictatorship engaged in crimes against humanity demonstrates that this Federal Reserve Bank does not understand democracy — or Colorado.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City proceeds to further disrespect the dignity of the state by arguing that the Federal Reserve Bank should not be forced to make federal “services available to all comers,” because a rogue state like Colorado could jeopardize the nation’s monetary system “through the quality of the institutions to which they granted credit union charters.”

These are corrupt arguments. This overdrawn picture is in reality a distortion of the facts, the only effect of which is to divert attention from the real question presented and to prejudice its impartial consideration.

Given their perspective, it is not surprising that the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has asked for the case to be dismissed.

The Federal Reserve believes it has unfettered control. The Fourth Corner Credit Union believes it does not, and that is why Fourth Corner has asked the court to grant Summary Judgment in our favor as a matter of law.

The court will decide.

Many people tell me that winning a case against the Federal Reserve is impossible. I am often reminded that, as Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

 

Mark Goldfogel

Mark Goldfogel

Mark Goldfogel is an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, and speaker. He is credited with having first proposed “Seed to Sale Tracking” as a means of diversion control, taxation, and health and human safety to the State of Colorado. He co-founded the cannabis industry’s first compliance inventory control system and was a key advisor to The Fourth Corner Credit Union, a financial institution with a banking charter to support the “Hemp and Cannabis Movement.” He has advised States, non-industry companies wishing to enter the industry, and startup companies capitalizing on the opportunities and avoiding the potholes of the budding cannabis industries. For a free copy of his book, Smoking Something, The Cannabis Paradox10, (Amazon $24.20) please send an email to [email protected].

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