Washington lawmaker calls for end to "cash only" pot shops

Tacoma, Wash. (KING) — Washington is one of the few states that allows the legal sale of marijuana, and now concern is growing over the fact that customers can only pay with cash.

On a good day, Clear Choice Cannabis will sell marijuana to 2,000 customers, and their employees make several cash deposits every day at a credit union.

The credit union and most banks won’t take payments in checks or cards because they consider the cannabis industry risky and possibly immoral.

Rep. Denny Heck has proposed a piece of legislation in Congress that will protect banks from this risk. The legislation has been supported by many Democrats and Republicans but congressional leaders have not backed it.

“It’s very short, very simple, very straightforward,” said Heck. “Which basically says banks and credit unions can do this with no legal liability as long as they are following the guidelines.”

He is trying again because he believes reducing cash at the stores will reduce the risk of robberies.