TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Today, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis is calling on Congress to take immediate action and approve legislation which will increase banking options for the marijuana industry across the nation, including Florida’s legitimate medical marijuana businesses.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Legitimate Florida businesses in our medical marijuana industry face incredible security threats and increased opportunity for criminal activity due to the troubling lack of banking solutions. At no fault of their own, medical marijuana companies operating in our state are doing so as cash-only businesses and this is unacceptable. I ask Congress to step up and immediately approve legislation which will increase banking options for our country’s marijuana businesses.”