{"id":54264,"date":"2022-04-14T09:31:40","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T17:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/04\/14\/u-s-attorney-general-would-be-required-to-create-marijuana-commission-to-advise-on-legalization-under-new-bipartisan-bill\/"},"modified":"2022-04-16T09:48:21","modified_gmt":"2022-04-16T17:48:21","slug":"u-s-attorney-general-would-be-required-to-create-marijuana-commission-to-advise-on-legalization-under-new-bipartisan-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/04\/14\/u-s-attorney-general-would-be-required-to-create-marijuana-commission-to-advise-on-legalization-under-new-bipartisan-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Attorney General Would Be Required To Create Marijuana Commission To Advise On Legalization Under New Bipartisan Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers filed a bill on Thursday that would direct the attorney general to create a commission charged with making recommendations on a regulatory system for marijuana that models what\u2019s currently in place for alcohol.<\/p>\n

Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Brian Mast (R-FL) are teaming up on what\u2019s titled the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult-Use Regulated Environment Act (PREPARE) Act\u2014an incremental reform meant to inform comprehensive cannabis policy changes in the future.<\/p>\n

The measure will \u201cprovide lawmakers across the ideological spectrum the opportunity to engage on cannabis reform by creating a fair, honest and publicly transparent process for the federal government to establish effective regulation to be enacted upon the termination of its 85-year prohibition of cannabis,\u201d according to a summary from the sponsors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith 91 percent of Americans supporting either medical or recreational cannabis legalization, it\u2019s time for the federal government to respect the will of our voters\u2014both Democrat and Republican alike\u2014and begin a serious conversation about what a post-prohibition America should look like,\u201d Joyce said in a press release.<\/p>\n

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Today, I introduced bipartisan legislation alongside @RepJeffries<\/a> and @RepBrianMast<\/a> to better prepare the federal government for the inevitable end to #cannabis<\/a> prohibition. https:\/\/t.co\/xIDOqm9pEC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) April 14, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cThe PREPARE Act will give my colleagues on both sides of the aisle the answers they need to effectively engage on cannabis reform so that Congress can develop a federal regulatory framework that ensures not only a responsible end to prohibition, but also a safe future for our communities,\u201d he said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Of course, advocates and stakeholders are eager to end prohibition and enact a tax-and-regulate framework for marijuana sooner rather than later. So while it stands to reason that the measure to form a \u201cCommission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis\u201d could attract some conservatives and moderates as an interim step, it\u2019s likely to face pushback from legalization proponents who feel that there are already adequate legislative vehicles proposed to change federal marijuana policy today, even if there may be room for improvement.<\/p>\n

For example, the House passed a bill this month<\/a> from Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) that would federally legalize cannabis, institute tax policies for the market and promote equity. Democratic Senate leadership is also preparing to file a comprehensive legalization bill<\/a> later this month.<\/p>\n

To be sure, the House-passed Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act passed on a largely partisan basis\u2014with just three GOP members voting to advance it. And while the Senate bill is still being finalized, it\u2019s expected to face a significant, uphill battle in the chamber where Democrats hold just a slim minority\u2014and not every member of the party is on board with legalization.<\/p>\n

Enter, the PREPARE Act. The sponsors say it will lead to the \u201cdevelopment of a federal regulatory framework that will help ensure safety, accountability and economic growth among the 45+ states that have enacted cannabis legalization to some degree\u201d while accounting for the \u201cunique needs, rights and laws of each state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joyce supports ending federal prohibition, and he serves as one of two GOP members of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. However, he voted against the MORE Act and explained his reasoning to colleagues<\/a>, as well as in an op-ed for Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While he sent a letter to Nadler ahead of the House floor vote, offering to work together to revise the bill in a way that could garner more bipartisan support, that evidently didn\u2019t come to fruition and now he\u2019s proposing a more deliberative process to determine the best regulatory route for cannabis reform.<\/p>\n

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It’s time for the federal govt to respect the will of voters, Democrats and Republicans alike, and begin a serious conversation about what a post-prohibition America should look like.<\/p>\n

The PREPARE Act jumpstarts that conversation and paves the way for more comprehensive reform.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) April 14, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Jeffries, for his part, did vote for the MORE Act and has sponsored other legalization bills. But he\u2019s made a point to reach across the aisle and embrace modest criminal justice reform proposals<\/a>, even if he\u2019s willing to go further and faster. For example, he teamed up with GOP colleagues to get sentencing reform legislation across the finish line.\u00a0His partnership on the PREPARE Act makes sense in that respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans across the political spectrum recognize that now is the time for cannabis reform,\u201d Jeffries said. \u201cSince the failed war on drugs began over 50 years ago, the prohibition of marijuana has ruined lives, families and communities\u2014particularly communities of color. The PREPARE Act is one of the bipartisan solutions that will lay the groundwork to finally right these wrongs in a way that advances public safety and boosts our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mast, who recently joined Joyce as one of two GOP co-chairs of the Cannabis Caucus<\/a>, also voted for the MORE Act on the floor this month. The congressman said the new bill is \u201can important step to ensuring the necessary framework exists for a post-prohibition world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what the new bill would accomplish:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Require the attorney general to establish a \u201cCommission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis\u201d within 30 days of the bill\u2019s enactment.<\/p>\n

The commission would be responsible for studying federal and state regulatory models for alcohol and make recommendations about how they could inform marijuana regulations.<\/p>\n

Among other things, the commission\u2019s report must look at the impact of marijuana criminalization, particularly as it concerns minority, low-income and veteran communities.<\/p>\n

The panel would also examine the \u201clack of consistent regulations for cannabis product safety, use and labeling requirements\u201d as well as the \u201clack of guidance for cannabis crop production, sale, intrastate, interstate, and international trade.<\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n

It would also need to make recommendations on how to remedy cannabis-related banking and research barriers as well as address measures to ensure the \u201csuccessful coexistence of individual hemp and cannabis industries, including prevention of cross pollination of cannabis and hemp products.\u201d<\/p>\n

Members would further be mandated to study and make recommendations on\u00a0\u201cefficient cannabis revenue re<\/span>porting and collecting, including efficient and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>tenable federal revenue frameworks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The panel would be required to issue a report to Congress within 12 months.<\/p>\n

The panel would include representatives of:<\/strong><\/p>\n