Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act Draft Bill Released
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY-D) released his much awaited draft legislation, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, includes the following:
Removal from Controlled Substances Act, Transfer of Federal Agency Function within 60 days of enactment
Recognition of State Law Controlling Cannabis, Establishment of Public Safety and Enforcement.
Establishing Minimum Age, Restriction on Retail Sale
Along with the above recommendations, the draft bill also includes Research, Training and Prevention, Restorative Justice and Opportunity Programs, which are to include Opportunity Trust Fund Programs and Small Business Administration Programs. In addition, the bill seeks Demographic Data of Cannabis Business Owners and Employees claiming confidentiality. Schumer’s bill also includes sectionsResentencing and Expungement, Anti-Discrimination for Federal Public Benefits, No Adverse Effect for Purposes of Immigration Laws, as well as Provisions of Medical Cannabis Recommendations by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service, Tax proposals, recommendations on Public Health, Cannabis Administration, and Trade Practices, General Provisions Regarding Agency Jurisdiction, Establishment of Cannabis Products Regulatory Advisory Committee, Cannabis Administration and Trade Practices Enforcement.
Public comment submissions should be submitted in writing by September 1, 2021 in order to ensure time for offices to consider comments before introducing a final legislative draft. Comments may be submitted to CannabisReform@finance.senate.gov.