Senator Files Bill To Prep for Federal Cannabis Legalization

Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado on Thursday introduced legislation to prepare the country for nationwide cannabis legalization and drafted regulations to control legal marijuana at the federal level. laid the foundation for The bill effectively prepares regulators for the Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulatory Environment (PREPARE) Act, giving the U.S. Attorney General the ability to regulate the eventual federal legalization of cannabis by Congress. I have instructed them to formulate a framework for Cannabis policy reform continues to grow in popularity.

Hickenlooper was governor of Colorado when voters legalized recreational marijuana through passage of Amendment 64 in 2012. A month later, he convened the Amendment 64 Task Force to provide recommendations for establishing regulations that would set the stage for Colorado’s successful legal cannabis industry. Last month, ten years after his 64th Amendment was approved by Colorado voters, Hickenlooper plans to introduce his bipartisan PREPARE Act to create a similar commission at the federal level. clarified.

“Ten years after Colorado pioneered marijuana legalization, Americans overwhelmingly support the same at the federal level. hickenlooper said In a statement from the Senate Office. “This bipartisan, bicameral framework, based on Colorado’s Amended 64 Task Force, will replicate our success nationally.”

Companion measure to house building

Hickenlooper method This is the bill that accompanies the House version of the bill sponsored by Ohio Republican Rep. Dave Joyce.

“I am thrilled that the PREPARE Act has been introduced into the Senate, making it not only bipartisan but also bicameral, one step closer to legislation,” Joyce said. “This law gives legislators on both sides of the aisle the answers they need to effectively engage in cannabis reform, regulate it safely and effectively, and rectify the harm caused by the failed cannabis war. .”

“These responses allow Congress to not only respect each state’s unique needs, rights, and laws, but to ensure a responsible end to the ban and a more secure future for our communities. “We can develop a federal regulatory framework that is consistent with what we have in mind,” he continued. Thank you Senator Ken Looper.”

The bill directs the Attorney General to create a “Commission on Federal Regulation of Cannabis” to advise on the development of a regulatory framework modeled on existing federal and state alcohol regulations. The 24-member Commission is made up of representatives from relevant government agencies and offices, individuals nominated by Senate and House leaders, and individuals nominated by other government agencies.

The Act requires a plan prepared by the commission to account for each state’s unique needs, rights, and laws, and directs the commission to submit a plan to Congress within one year of enactment of the Preparatory Act. To do. The Commission has no rule-making authority. The panel’s sole role is to formulate proposals and make policy recommendations.

The regulatory framework developed by the Commission includes “How to Remediate the Disproportionate Impact of Cannabis Prohibition on Minority, Low-Income, and Veteran Communities; Encourage Access to Research and Training by Health Professionals; Encourage economic opportunities for individuals and small businesses Develop protections for the hemp industry, according to Hickenlooper’s office.

Growing Support for Cannabis Policy Reform

Hickenlooper’s bill highlights growing support for cannabis policy reform in the United States. In October, President Joseph Biden announced that he would pardon all federal convictions for simple marijuana possession, and last week a new Pew Research poll found that 90% of Americans would legalize cannabis in some form. I support that.

“President Biden recently and rightly declared that the federal government’s explicit criminal ban on cannabis was a failure and urged executive leaders at the state and federal levels to take concrete steps to bring about rational reform. ,” said Shane Pennington, a cannabis and psychedelics attorney. Law firm Vicente Sederberg LLP wrote in an email: high times“The Preparatory Act seeks to prepare the federal government for much broader reforms that are now imminent. A coordinated and concerted effort is needed among myriad federal agencies, and the PREPARE Act will lay the groundwork necessary for the federal government to implement legalization in a fair, efficient, and effective manner. .”

Khadijah Tribble, chief executive of the US Cannabis Council, a trade group, said, “The Biden administration’s revision of the cannabis schedule, midterm voting measures, and polls on the decriminalization of cannabis all suggest that an end to cannabis prohibition can be avoided. The PREPARE Act will help the federal government develop a plan to ensure a smooth and responsible transition to legal cannabis.”

“We commend Senator Hickenlooper and his counterparts in the House for the foresight and care reflected in the PREPARE Act’s robust legal framework. It is a fairness advocacy and an economic opportunity for a minority of entrepreneurs who want to operate in a legitimate marketplace,” she continued. “The Cannabis Council of America will continue to work with Congress to prepare the country for the day when legal cannabis becomes law in the country.”

PREPARE ACT is supported by the United States Cannabis Council (USCC), City of Denver, National Hispanic Cannabis Council, Black Cannabis Equity Initiative, VS Strategies, Vicente Sederberg LLP, Metric, National Cannabis Industry Association, and Better Organizations to Win Legalization .