Homegrown Act of 2019

To decriminalize cannabis, to establish an Equitable Licensing Grant Program in the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homegrown Act of 2019. 2. Decriminalization of cannabis (a) Cannabis removed from schedule of controlled substances Subsection (c) of schedule I of section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 812 (1) by striking Marihuana (2) by striking Tetrahydrocannabinols and renumbering accordingly. (b) Conforming amendments to Controlled Substances Act The Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 801 (1) in section 102(44) ( 21 U.S.C. 802(44) marihuana, (2) in section 401(b) ( 21 U.S.C. 841(b) (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A)— (I) in clause (vi), by inserting or (II) by striking (vii); and (III) by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (vii); (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) in clause (vi), by inserting or (II) by striking clause (vii); and (III) by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (vii); (iii) in subparagraph (C), in the first sentence, by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) subparagraphs (A) and (B) (iv) by striking subparagraph (D); (v) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D); and (vi) in subparagraph (D)(i), as so redesignated, by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) subparagraph (C) (B) by striking paragraph (4); and (C) by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; (3) in section 402(c)(2)(B) ( 21 U.S.C. 842(c)(2)(B) marihuana, (4) in section 403(d)(1) ( 21 U.S.C. 843(d)(1) marihuana, (5) in section 418(a) ( 21 U.S.C. 859(a) (6) in section 419(a) ( 21 U.S.C. 860(a) (7) in section 422(d) ( 21 U.S.C. 863(d) (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking marijuana, (B) in paragraph (5), by striking , such as a marihuana cigarette, (8) in section 516(d) ( 21 U.S.C. 886(d) section 401(b)(6) section 401(b)(5) (c) Other conforming amendments (1) National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986 The National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986 ( 16 U.S.C. 559b (A) in section 15002(a) ( 16 U.S.C. 559b(a) marijuana and other (B) in section 15003(2) ( 16 U.S.C. 559c(2) marijuana and other (C) in section 15004(2) ( 16 U.S.C. 559d(2) marijuana and other (2) Interception of communications Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subsection (1)(e), by striking , marihuana, (B) in subsection (2) by striking marihuana 3. Equitable Licensing Grant Program The Small Business Administration shall establish and carry out a grant program to be known as the Equitable Licensing Grant Program (1) A waiver of cannabis license application fees for individuals most adversely impacted by the war on drugs who are first-time applicants. (2) A prohibition on the denial of a cannabis license based on a conviction of a cannabis-related offense. (3) A prohibition on criminal conviction restrictions for licensing except in instances where the conviction is relevant to owning and operating a business. (4) A prohibition on cannabis license holders from engaging in suspicion less cannabis drug testing of their prospective or current employees, except in instances of drug testing for safety-sensitive positions as defined by the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 ( Public Law 102–143 (5) The establishment of a cannabis licensing board, that is reflective of the racial, ethnic, economic, and gender composition of the State or locality, to serve as an oversight body of the equitable licensing program. (6) The establishment of a grant program from cannabis tax revenue to support non-profit community-based organizations that provide business training and technical, management, and marketing assistance to individuals most adversely impacted by the war on drugs who are starting, sustaining, or expanding a cannabis business.

Summary: Homegrown Act of 2019. This bill removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and eliminates criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute marijuana. Additionally, the bill requires the Small Business Administration to establish the Equitable Licensing Grant Program. The purpose of the grant program is to support the implementation of cannabis licensing programs that minimize barriers to licensing and employment for individuals adversely impacted by the war on drugs.