1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act” or the “STATES Act” .
Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act
A BILL
To amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide for a new rule regarding the application of the Act to marihuana, and for other purposes.
2. Rule regarding application to marihuana
Part G of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“710. Rule regarding application to marihuana
“(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this title as applied to marihuana, other than the provisions described in subsection (c) and other than as provided in subsection (d), shall not apply to any person acting in compliance with State law relating to the manufacture, production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana.
“(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this title related to marihuana, other than the provisions described in subsection (c) and other than as provided in subsection (d), shall not apply to any person acting in compliance with the law of a federally recognized Indian tribe within its jurisdiction in Indian country, as defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code, related to the manufacture, production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana so long as such jurisdiction is located within a state that permits, respectively, manufacture, production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana.
“(c) The provisions described in this subsection are—
“(1) section 401(a)(1), with respect to a violation of section 409 or 418;
“(2) section 409;
“(3) section 417; and
“(4) section 418.
“(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any person who—
“(1) violates the Controlled Substances Act with respect to any other controlled substance;
“(2) notwithstanding compliance with State or tribal law, knowingly or intentionally manufactures, produces, possesses, distributes, dispenses, administers, or delivers any other marihuana in violation of the laws of the State or tribe in which such manufacture, production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery occurs; or
“(3) employs or hires any person under 18 years of age to manufacture, produce, distribute, dispense, administer, or deliver marihuana.”
3. Transportation safety offenses
Section 409 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 849) is amended—
in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
by striking “A person” and inserting “Except as provided in subsection (d), a person”; and
by striking “subsection (b)” and inserting “subsection (c)”;
in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
by striking “A person” and inserting “Except as provided in subsection (d), a person”; and
by striking “subsection (a)” and inserting “subsection (b)”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Exception—Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to any person who possesses, or possesses with intent to distribute marihuana in compliance with section 710.”
4. Distribution to persons under age 21
Section 418 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 859) is amended—
in subsection (a), in the first sentence, by inserting “and subsection (c) of this section” after “section 419”;
in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by inserting “and subsection(c) of this section” after “section 419”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(c) Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to any person at least 18 years of age who distributes medicinal marihuana to a person under 21 years of age in compliance with section 710.”
5. Comptroller General study on effects of marihuana legalization on traffic safety
In general— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effects of marihuana legalization on traffic safety.
Inclusions— The study conducted under subsection (a) shall include a detailed assessment of—
traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries in States that have legalized marihuana use, including whether States are able to accurately evaluate marihuana impairment in those incidents;
actions taken by the States referred to in paragraph (1) to address marihuana-impaired driving, including any challenges faced in addressing marihuana-impaired driving;
testing standards used by the States referred to in paragraph (1) to evaluate marihuana impairment in traffic crashes, fatalities, and injuries, including any scientific methods used to determine impairment and analyze data; and
Federal initiatives aiming to assist States that have legalized marihuana with traffic safety, including recommendations for policies and programs to be carried out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).
6. Rule of construction
In general— Conduct in compliance with this Act and the amendments made by this Act—
shall not be unlawful;
shall not constitute trafficking in a controlled substance under section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841) or any other provision of law; and
shall not constitute the basis for forfeiture of property under section 511 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 881) or section 981 of title 18, United States Code.
Proceeds— The proceeds from any transaction in compliance with this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall not be deemed to be the proceeds of an unlawful transaction under section 1956 or 1957 of title 18, United States Code, or any other provision of law.