Bill > S5022

This bill, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, aims to decriminalize and deschedule cannabis at the federal level, meaning it would no longer be classified as an illegal drug under federal law. It proposes to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act's Schedule I, which currently lists it alongside drugs like heroin and LSD. The bill also seeks to address the historical impacts of the War on Drugs by providing for expungement of certain federal cannabis offenses and reinvesting in communities disproportionately affected by past prohibition policies. Key provisions include establishing new federal regulatory frameworks for cannabis, similar to those for alcohol and tobacco, through agencies like the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It also includes measures for research into cannabis's health effects, prevention of underage use and impaired driving, support for small businesses in the cannabis industry, and protections for workers. Furthermore, the bill creates an Opportunity Trust Fund, funded by taxes on cannabis products, to support community reinvestment programs. Importantly, it clarifies that states and Indian Tribes retain their authority to regulate cannabis within their borders and makes significant changes to immigration laws to prevent adverse effects for individuals with cannabis-related history.