Bill > HRes926

This resolution, known as the RESPECT Resolution (Realizing Equitable & Sustainable Participation in Emerging Cannabis Trades), addresses cannabis policy reform with a focus on equity and social justice. The resolution encourages states and localities to adopt practices that address the disproportionate impacts of cannabis criminalization on communities of color, including eliminating criminal penalties for cannabis possession, creating more accessible licensing processes for small businesses and individuals most impacted by the War on Drugs, and establishing automatic record expungement for cannabis offenses. Key recommendations include setting aside tax revenue to reinvest in affected communities, creating licensing opportunities for low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals, eliminating discriminatory drug testing, and establishing oversight bodies that reflect community demographics. Additionally, the resolution calls on the U.S. President to work with the United Nations to deschedule cannabis from international drug control treaties, recognizing the global implications of cannabis policy reform. The resolution highlights the significant racial disparities in cannabis arrests, noting that Black individuals are 3.64 times more likely to be arrested for possession despite comparable usage rates, and points to the potential economic impact of cannabis legalization, with the market expected to reach $100 billion by 2030.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/926/all-info