{"id":57835,"date":"2022-11-03T12:20:29","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T20:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/11\/03\/new-senate-bill-would-create-federal-marijuana-commission-to-prepare-for-legalization\/"},"modified":"2022-11-03T17:45:45","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T01:45:45","slug":"new-senate-bill-would-create-federal-marijuana-commission-to-prepare-for-legalization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/11\/03\/new-senate-bill-would-create-federal-marijuana-commission-to-prepare-for-legalization\/","title":{"rendered":"New Senate Bill Would Create Federal Marijuana Commission To Prepare For Legalization"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Marking the 10th anniversary since Colorado voters approved marijuana legalization at the ballot, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) announced on Thursday that he will soon be filing a congressional bill to set the country up for federal cannabis reform.<\/p>\n

Specifically, the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult-Use Regulated Environment Act (PREPARE) Act 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

The measure is identical to a House companion bill<\/a> that Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Brian Mast (R-FL) filed in April. Hickenlooper\u2019s staff told Marijuana Moment that the Senate version will be formally introduced when the chamber returns from recess in mid-November.<\/p>\n

The senator sees the commission that would be created by the legislation as similar to a task force he empaneled when he was Colorado\u2019s governor to steer implementation of legalization at the state level.<\/p>\n

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Federal marijuana legalization doesn\u2019t need to start from scratch and we should prepare for it now.<\/p>\n

Today we introduced the PREPARE Act, a bipartisan bill to pave the way for the federal regulation of marijuana once legalization arrives.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) November 3, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cColorado successfully pioneered marijuana legalization a decade ago, thanks in part to the Amendment 64 Task Force,\u201d he said in a press release<\/a>. \u201cFederal legalization doesn\u2019t need to start from scratch, and we should prepare for when it arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hickenlooper recently participated in an event with current Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the state\u2019s legalization vote<\/a>, which he opposed at the time. He has since acknowledged, however, that many of his fears about ending prohibition haven\u2019t materialized, particularly when it comes to youth cannabis use.<\/p>\n

The new congressional measure would \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.<\/p>\n

It would 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

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Legalizing marijuana at the federal level will increase tax revenues, create jobs, and spur innovation. What are we waiting for?<\/p>\n

\u2014 Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) November 3, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The idea of creating a \u201cCommission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis\u201d could attract bipartisan support, especially among lawmakers who are reluctant to back legislation to federally legalize cannabis altogether.<\/p>\n

That said, advocates have become increasingly impatient with marijuana incrementalism in Congress, imploring lawmakers to follow the lead of states and put an end to the widely unpopular policy of cannabis criminalization.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

The House has passed a comprehensive legalization bill on two occasions\u2014and Senate leadership filed a separate reform measure in July\u2014but it seems unlikely that the latter chamber will move to advance that proposal before the session ends in January.<\/p>\n

Instead, the focus has been on moving a package of incremental cannabis reforms known colloquially as SAFE Plus, which is expected to include bipartisan marijuana banking legislation, as well as language on expungements and cannabis research.<\/p>\n

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on Sunday that Congress is getting \u201cvery close\u201d to introducing and passing the package<\/a>, citing progress he\u2019s made in discussions with a \u201cbunch of Republican senators.\u201d<\/p>\n

The PREPARE Act that Hickenlooper will be introducing on the Senate side seems like the kind of legislation that could fit within that incremental reform framework, but for now the focus is on the standalone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the PREPARE Act will be introduced in the Senate, making it not only further bipartisan, but bicameral, and bringing it one step closer to becoming law,\u201d Joyce, the sponsor of the House version, said.<\/p>\n

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Thrilled that @SenatorHick<\/a> will introduce my PREPARE Act in the Senate, making it not only further bipartisan, but bicameral, and bringing it one step closer to becoming law. I look forward to continuing to work together to pave the way for more comprehensive #cannabis<\/a> reform. pic.twitter.com\/HpW8fgMbre<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) November 3, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cThis legislation gives lawmakers on both sides of the aisle the answers they need to effectively engage on cannabis reform, safely and effectively regulate it, and remedy the harms caused by the failed war on cannabis,\u201d he said. \u201cWith those answers, Congress can develop a much-needed federal regulatory framework that not only respects the unique needs, rights, and laws of each state, but also ensures a responsible end to prohibition and a safer future for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was proud to lead the introduction of this commonsense bill in the House and thank Senator Hickenlooper for advancing it in the Senate,\u201d he added. \u201cI look forward to continuing to work together to pave the way for more comprehensive reform.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what the bill would accomplish:<\/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.\u201c<\/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 \u201cefficient cannabis revenue reporting and collecting, including efficient and tenable federal revenue frameworks.\u201d<\/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