,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cegf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ah1 #bjbe,mr4 ,hickenlooper introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,commission on the ,federal ,regulation of ,cannabis to study a prompt and plausible pathway to the ,federal regulation of cannabis1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,preparing ,regulators ,effectively for a ,post-prohibition ,adult-use ,regulated ,environment ,act of #bjbe or the ,,prepare ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,findings and purpose 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,cannabis was federally legal in the ,united ,states until #aicg4 7#b7 ,cannabis was federally prohibited to codify discriminatory practices against minority communities4 7#c7 ,medical cannabis prohibition was established despite objection from the ,american ,medical ,association4 7#d7 #ch ,states and the ,district of ,columbia have legalized cannabis for medical purposes4 7#e7 #ba ,states and the ,district of ,columbia have legalized cannabis for adult use4 7#f7 ,despite the ,federal ,government collecting revenue from the sale of cannabis1 individuals are still criminally prosecuted for its use or possession4 7#g7 ,cannabis research1 including research on medical uses1 product safety1 and impairment standards1 is severely hindered and made nearly impossible by its schedule #a classification4 7#h7 ,cannabis should remain an adult product aside from the physician prescribed treatment of minors4 7#i7 ,cannabis has proven medically beneficial for patients suffering from pain1 cancer1 post-traumatic stress disorder1 seizure disorders1 and multiple sclerosis1 among other diseases4 7#aj7 ,since #bjjc1 the ,united ,states ,government by way of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services has held a patent for medical cannabis as an antioxidant and neuroprotectant4 7#aa7 ,while the ,united ,states remains trapped in antiquated cannabis regulations1 other nations and scientific competitors1 including the ,united ,kingdom1 ,canada1 ,south ,korea1 ,germany1 and ,israel have modified their laws to allow for varying degrees of cannabis legality and medical research4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is for the ,president and ,congress to prepare the ,federal ,government for an inevitable and prompt end to ,federal marihuana prohibition by establishing a commission to advise on the development of a regulatory framework with respect to marihuana regulation1 including accounting for the different characteristics of communities1 agencies1 and industries impacted by ,federal marihuana prohibition4 ,such regulatory framework shall be modeled after ,federal and ,state regulatory frameworks with respect to alcohol4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,cannabis ,the term cannabis has the meaning given the term marihuana in section #ajb of the ,controlled ,substances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hjb74 7#b7 ,state ,the term ,state includes the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 and any territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,state cannabis control commission ,the term ,state cannabis control commission means any ,state commission1 bureau1 board1 department1 office1 agency1 division1 or authority responsible for the regulation of the legal medical and recreational cannabis program of the ,state4 7#d7 ,tribal government ,the term ,tribal government means the recognized governing body of any ,indian or ,alaska ,native tribe1 band1 nation1 pueblo1 village1 community1 component band1 or component reservation1 individually identified 7including parenthetically7 in the list published most recently as of the date of enactment of this paragraph pursuant to section #ajd of the ,federally ,recognized ,indian ,tribe ,list ,act of #aiid 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #eaca74 #d4 ,commission establishment and membership 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,attorney ,general shall establish a commission to be known as the ,commission on the ,federal ,regulation of ,cannabis 7in this ,act referred to as the ,commission7 to study a plausible and prompt pathway to cannabis regulation4 7b7 ,duties of ,commission 7#a7 ,proposal of measures ,the ,commission shall propose measures to alleviate and remedy-- 7,a7 the impact of cannabis criminalization1 particularly on minority1 low income1 and veteran communities2 7,b7 the lack of access to the financial service sector for cannabis entrepreneurs and their affiliated industries2 7,c7 the lack of access to cannabis related research1 including research on medical uses and the effects of impairment2 7,d7 the lack of access to medical cannabis and research1 particularly with respect to ,federal agencies2 7,e7 the lack of medical cannabis training at publicly funded medical training centers2 7,f7 the lack of consistent regulations for cannabis product and safety1 use1 and labeling requirements1 including requirements to protect youth and reduce harms to youth2 7,g7 the lack of efficient cannabis revenue reporting and collecting1 including efficient and tenable ,federal revenue frameworks2 7,h7 the lack of guidance for cannabis crop production1 sale1 intrastate1 interstate1 and international trade2 7,i7 the lack of guidance regarding the successful coexistence of individual hemp and cannabis industries1 including prevention of cross pollination of cannabis and hemp products2 and 7,j7 any other barriers to ,federal cannabis legalization identified by the ,commission4 7#b7 ,public comment2 public witness2 reports 7,a7 ,comment period ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall solicit comment with respect to the regulation of cannabis from industry stakeholders1 criminal justice reform advocates1 substance use advocates1 healthcare experts1 ,state cannabis regulators1 the ,department of ,justice of each ,state or ,tribal government1 and the public4 7,b7 ,public witness hearing 7i7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall convene a witness hearing and solicit written or verbal testimony from participants in the cannabis industry4 ,such hearings shall include-- 7,i7 not less than #b unique individuals or entities1 who are not employed by the ,federal ,government1 and represent a ,state legal operation that is licensed by a single ,state to sell1 manufacture1 produce1 possess1 distribute1 administer1 or deliver cannabis2 7,,ii7 not less than #b unique individuals or entities1 who are not employed by the ,federal ,government1 and represent a ,state legal operation with a multi-,state presence that is licensed by such ,states to sell1 manufacture1 produce1 possess1 distribute1 administer1 or deliver cannabis2 7,,iii7 an individual who was convicted and incarcerated by the ,federal ,government for a non-violent offense with respect to cannabis2 and 7,,iv7 an individual who was convicted and incarcerated by a ,state for a non-violent offense with respect to cannabis4 7ii7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to limit the authority of the ,commission to include additional participants at the public witness hearing if the participants referred to under clause 7i7 are included4 7iii7 ,public availability ,written and verbal testimony under clause 7i7 shall be made publicly available in the final recommendations published under paragraph 7#e74 7#c7 ,initial report and recommendations ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall publish initial findings and recommendations1 including an identification of barriers to and suggestions for regulating cannabis in a way that is similar to the regulation of alcohol with respect to the rights of ,states1 ,tribal governments1 and the ,federal ,government1 on the internet website of the ,department of ,justice4 7#d7 ,additional public comment period ,beginning #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall solicit additional public comment from stakeholders identified pursuant to paragraph 7#b77;,a7 with respect to the initial recommendations published pursuant to paragraph 7#c74 7#e7 ,final recommendations ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall publish a report including findings and recommendations1 including an identification of barriers to and suggestions for regulating cannabis in a way that is similar to the regulation of alcohol1 on the internet website of the ,department of ,justice4 7c7 ,membership ,the ,commission shall be composed of the following members3 7#a7 ,the majority leader of the ,senate shall appoint #a member who is not employed by the ,federal ,government and was formerly incarcerated for a non-violent crime with respect to cannabis use or possession4 7#b7 ,the minority leader of the ,senate shall appoint #a member who is not employed by the ,federal ,government and is an expert in substance abuse prevention4 7#c7 ,the minority leader of the ,house of ,representatives shall appoint #a member who is not employed by the ,federal ,government and is an expert in the history of cannabis criminalization and the impact of criminalization on various communities1 particularly minorities1 medical patients1 and veterans4 7#d7 ,the majority leader of the ,house of ,representatives shall appoint #a member who is not employed by the ,federal ,government and who is medically licensed with substantial knowledge and demonstrated research into cannabis use and medical treatments4 7#e7 ,the ,attorney ,general shall appoint #a member from the ,department of ,justice1 who is an expert in the history of cannabis criminalization and the impact of criminalization on various communities1 particularly minorities1 medical patients1 and veterans4 7#f7 ,the ,director of the ,bureau of ,alcohol1 ,tobacco1 ,firearms and ,explosives4 7#g7 ,the ,director of the ,national ,highway ,traffic ,safety ,administration4 7#h7 ,the ,secretary of ,education shall appoint #a member from the ,department of ,education who is an expert in prevention of youth access to alcohol and tobacco4 7#i7 ,the ,director of ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration4 7#aj7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture shall appoint #a member from the ,department of ,agriculture who is an expert on cannabis and hemp cultivation4 7#aa7 ,the ,commissioner of the ,food and ,drug ,administration4 7#ab7 ,the ,director of the ,alcohol and ,tobacco ,tax and ,trade ,bureau4 7#ac7 ,the ,commissioner of the ,internal ,revenue ,service4 7#ad7 ,the ,united ,states ,trade ,representative4 7#ae7 ,the ,secretary of ,commerce shall appoint #a member from the ,department of ,commerce who is an expert on regulated goods in interstate commerce4 7#af7 ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall appoint #a member from the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services who is an expert on medical cannabis use and access4 7#ag7 ,the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health4 7#ah7 ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall appoint #a member from the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs with knowledge of treatments for pain management and post-traumatic stress disorder and for providing patients with affordable treatment options4 7#ai7 ,the ,deputy ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#bj7 ,the ,administrator of the ,small ,business ,administration shall appoint #a member from the ,small ,business ,administration who is an expert in creating industry access for historically marginalized communities4 7#ba7 ,the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology4 7#bb7 ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#bc7 ,the ,secretary of ,labor4 7#bd7 ,the ,secretary of the ,treasury4 7#be7 ,the ,director of the ,office of ,national ,drug ,control ,policy4 7#bf7 ,the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,health4 7#bg7 ,the ,director of ,indian ,health ,service4 7#bh7 ,one representative from a trade organization or other non-profit entity with members from multiple1 highly regulated adult goods and consumer package goods1 appointed by the ,attorney ,general4 7#bi7 ,two representatives who have worked on a ,state cannabis control commission to develop #b successful1 separate1 and unique ,state-level regulatory systems1 appointed by the ,attorney ,general4 7d7 ,leadership 7#a7 ,chairperson ,the ,chairperson shall be elected by the members of the ,commission at the first meeting of the ,commission4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the ,secretary shall be elected by the members of the ,commission at the first meeting of the ,commission4 7#c7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy in the ,chairperson or ,secretary position shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made by the remaining members of the ,commission4 7e7 ,membership by political party ,if after the ,commission is appointed there is a partisan imbalance of ,commission members1 the congressional leaders of the political party with fewer members on the ,commission shall jointly name additional members to create partisan parity on the ,commission4 7f7 ,appointments2 removals2 vacancies 7#a7 ,timing of appointments ,each initial appointment to the ,commission shall be made no later than #cj days after the ,commission is established4 ,if any appointing authorities fail to appoint a member to the ,commission1 their appointment shall be made by the ,attorney ,general4 7#b7 ,removal ,a member of the ,commission may be removed from the ,commission at any time by the appointing authority should the member fail to meet ,commission attendance requirement pursuant to subsection 7g74 7#c7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy in the ,commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made prior to the date of the ,commission's next meeting4 7g7 ,meeting requirements 7#a7 ,first meeting ,the ,commission shall have its first meeting no later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,quarterly meetings ,the ,commission shall meet quarterly4 ,in addition to all quarterly meetings1 the ,commission shall meet at other times at the call of the ,chairperson or as determined by a majority of ,commission members4 7#c7 ,quorum2 rule for voting on final actions ,a majority of the members of the ,commission constitute a quorum1 and an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present is required to issue recommendations4 7#d7 ,attendance by members ,members are expected to attend all ,commission meetings4 ,in the case of an absence1 members are expected to report to the ,chairperson prior to the meeting and allowance may be made for an absent member to participate remotely4 ,members are responsible for fulfilling prior commitments1 regardless of attendance status4 ,if a member is absent #b times in a given year1 he or she will be reviewed by the ,chairperson and appointing authority and further action will be considered1 including removal and replacement on the ,commission4 7h7 ,minutes ,minutes shall be taken at each meeting by the ,secretary1 or in that individual's absence1 the ,chairperson shall select another ,commission member to take minutes during that absence4 7i7 ,administrative requirements ,the ,attorney ,general shall provide staff and administrative support to the ,commission4 ,all entities of the ,united ,states ,government shall provide information that is otherwise a public record at the request of the ,commission4 7j7 ,no rulemaking authority ,the ,commission shall not have rulemaking authority4 7k7 ,prohibition of compensation 7#a7 ,federal employees ,members of the ,commission who are full-time officers or employees of the ,united ,states may not receive additional pay1 allowances1 or benefits by reason of their service on the ,commission4 7#b7 ,other members ,members of the ,commission who are not full-time officers or employees of the ,united ,states may not receive additional pay1 allowances1 or benefits by reason of their service on the ,commission4