A bipartisan coalition of senators behind a cannabis banking bill is pushing for a markup and working to clear key hurdles on both sides of the aisle to lock down support.

As advocates work to drum up momentum for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, some proponents in the upper chamber have expressed hopes the bill could advance out of committee in the coming weeks.

“We hope to be able to announce something in the next few days,” Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) told reporters this week.

The SAFE Banking Act would give federally regulated banks and credit unions legal cover to take cannabis dispensaries and growers as customers. Financial institutions have been hesitant to serve state-legal cannabis businesses because of the federal ban on the drug.

Democrats say excitement has been building after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended that marijuana, which is classified as a Schedule I drug, be moved to the Schedule III category.

“What happened on Schedule III was good, another potential breakthrough,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said, adding: “We’re moving to finally end the days of ‘Reefer Madness.’ The federal government just been behind on pot.” [Read More @ The Hill]