1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Substance Regulation and Safety Act of 2020”.
Substance Regulation and Safety Act of 2020
A BILL
To decriminalize and deschedule cannabis, to provide for the regulation of cannabis and cannabis products to protect public health and safety, and for other purposes.
2. Decriminalization of cannabis
Cannabis removed from schedule of controlled substances—
Removal in statute— Subsection (c) of schedule I of section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)) is amended—
by striking “(10) Marihuana.”; and
by striking “(17) Tetrahydrocannabinols, except for tetrahydrocannabinols in hemp (as defined under section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946).”.
Removal from schedule—
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall finalize a rulemaking under section 201(a)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 811(a)(2)) removing marihuana and tetrahydrocannabinols from the schedules of controlled substances.
Drugs do not meet requirements— Marihuana and tetrahydrocannabinols shall each be deemed to be a drug or other substance that does not meet the requirements for inclusion in any schedule under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.).
Effective date— The rulemaking under subparagraph (A) shall be considered to have taken effect as of the date of enactment of this Act for purposes of any offense committed, case pending, or conviction entered, and in the case of a juvenile, any offense committed, case pending, or adjudication of juvenile delinquency entered, before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.
Conforming amendments to Controlled Substances Act— The Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended—
in section 102(44) (21 U.S.C. 802(44)), by striking “marihuana,”;
in section 401(b) (21 U.S.C. 841(b))—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A)—
in clause (vi), by inserting “or” after the semicolon;
by striking clause (vii); and
by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (vii);
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (vi), by inserting “or” after the semicolon;
by striking clause (vii); and
by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (vii);
in subparagraph (C), in the first sentence, by striking “subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D)” and inserting “subparagraphs (A) and (B)”;
by striking subparagraph (D);
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D); and
in subparagraph (D)(i), as so redesignated, by striking “subparagraphs (C) and (D)” and inserting “subparagraph (C)”;
by striking paragraph (4); and
by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively;
in section 402(c)(2)(B) (21 U.S.C. 842(c)(2)(B)), by striking “, marihuana,”;
in section 403(d)(1) (21 U.S.C. 843(d)(1)), by striking “, marihuana,”;
in section 418(a) (21 U.S.C. 859(a)), by striking the last sentence;
in section 419(a) (21 U.S.C. 860(a)), by striking the last sentence;
in section 422(d) (21 U.S.C. 863(d))—
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “marijuana,”; and
in paragraph (5), by striking “, such as a marihuana cigarette,”; and
in section 516(d) (21 U.S.C. 886(d)), by striking “section 401(b)(6)” each place the term appears and inserting “section 401(b)(5)”.
Other conforming amendments—
National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986— The National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 559b et seq.) is amended—
in section 15002(a) (16 U.S.C. 559b(a)) by striking “marijuana and other”;
in section 15003(2) (16 U.S.C. 559c(2)) by striking “marijuana and other”; and
in section 15004(2) (16 U.S.C. 559d(2)) by striking “marijuana and other”.
Interception of communications— Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (1)(e), by striking “, marihuana,”; and
in subsection (2), by striking “, marihuana”.
Retroactivity— The amendments made by this section to the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) are retroactive and shall apply to any offense committed, case pending, or conviction entered, and, in the case of a juvenile, any offense committed, case pending, or adjudication of juvenile delinquency entered, before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.
3. Regulation of cannabis products by the Food and Drug Administration
In general— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall regulate cannabis products in the same manner, and to the same extent, as the Secretary regulates tobacco products under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), including by applying all labeling and advertising requirements that apply to tobacco products under such Act to cannabis products.
Minimum age for purchasing cannabis—
In general— It shall be unlawful for any retailer to sell cannabis, or any cannabis-derived product, to any individual younger than 21 years of age.
Enforcement— The Secretary shall enforce paragraph (1) in the same manner, and to the same extent, as the Secretary enforces section 906(d)(5) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 387f(d)(5)).
Regulations— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this section.
4. Federally funded research on cannabis
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 408 (42 U.S.C. 284c) the following:
“408A. Requirement of applications for assistance with respect to research on cannabis
“A national research institute or national center—
“(1) shall evaluate and consider an application for medical research related to cannabis or cannabis-derived substances, and the potential for youth abuse of cannabis or cannabis-derived substances, on the same basis as the institute or center would evaluate and consider any other application for medical research; and
“(2) shall not deny any application for assistance under this title solely on the basis of the relation of such application to cannabis or cannabis-derived substances.”
5. National strategy to combat youth use of cannabis
In general— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall develop a national strategy to prevent youth use and abuse of cannabis, with specific attention to youth vaping of cannabis products.
Preventing racially disparate impacts—
Consultation; recommendations— As part of the strategy under subsection (a), not later than 100 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall consult with civil rights stakeholders and the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, to—
assess whether cannabis abuse prevention strategies and policies are likely to have racially disparate impacts; and
obtain recommendations to prevent racially disparate impacts in such strategies and policies.
Summary— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a summary of the consultation conducted under paragraph (1), including—
a description of the process involved in such consultation;
enumerated recommendations obtained under paragraph (1)(B); and
enumerated explanations for why the Secretary has adopted or has not adopted each such recommendation.
6. Department of Agriculture regulations
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall promulgate regulations, as appropriate, relating to—
the production of cannabis with respect to health, safety, and quality; and
quality control of cannabis intended for use in consumer cannabis products regulated under section 3 in accordance with the regulations developed by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs under subsection (c) of such section.
Consultation— In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture shall consult, as appropriate, with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the head of any other relevant Federal agency.
7. Regulations with respect to importation and exportation of cannabis and cannabis products
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in consultation (as appropriate) with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall prescribe regulations with respect to the importation and exportation of cannabis and cannabis products.
8. Highway traffic safety research and report
Research—
In general— The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), shall conduct research to identify reliable, evidence-based methods for detecting cannabis-impaired driving.
Coordination— In conducting the research under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate.
Evaluation—
In general— The Secretary shall evaluate each method for detecting cannabis-impaired driving identified pursuant to the research conducted under subsection (a) to determine whether the method is likely to contribute to racially disparate impacts in the enforcement of traffic safety laws.
Consultation—
Consultation required— In evaluating a method for detecting cannabis-impaired driving under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with—
civil rights stakeholders; and
the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate.
Recommendations and best practices—
In general— The civil rights stakeholders consulted under subparagraph (A)(i) may develop recommendations and best practices designed to prevent racially disparate impacts in the enforcement of traffic safety laws with respect to the use of any method for detecting cannabis-impaired driving.
Consideration of recommendations and best practices— The Secretary shall consider any recommendations or best practices developed under clause (i) in determining whether to adopt for purposes of any guidance issued, regulation promulgated, or grant administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration a method for detecting cannabis-impaired driving identified pursuant to the research conducted under subsection (a).
Public availability— Any recommendations or best practices developed under clause (i) shall be made publicly available on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Report— The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register and on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration a report describing—
the research conducted under subsection (a); and
each evaluation conducted under subsection (b), including—
a description of the consultation process carried out under paragraph (2) of that subsection;
a description of each recommendation or best practice developed by civil rights stakeholders under subparagraph (B) of that paragraph; and
an explanation of the reasons for adopting or not adopting for purposes of any guidance issued, regulation promulgated, or grant administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—
each method for detecting cannabis-impaired driving identified pursuant to the research conducted under subsection (a); and
each recommendation or best practice developed by civil rights stakeholders under subsection (b)(2)(B).