RETURN Act of 2022

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to improve consumer take-back programs by allowing persons who are authorized to collect controlled substances from ultimate users and other non-registrants for destruction through an authorized consumer return program to open and inspect packages, to provide a secure method of transporting substances to another location of destruction, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reduce Exposure and the Threat of Unused Residual Narcotics Act of 2022 RETURN Act of 2022 2. Inspection of packages of controlled substances received through mail-back disposal program (a) In general Section 302(g)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 822(g)(2) (1) by striking (2) In developing (2)(A) In developing (2) by striking Such regulations may not (B) Such regulations may not ; and (3) by adding at the end the following subparagraph: (C) (i) Such regulations shall allow persons who are authorized to collect controlled substances from ultimate users and other non-registrants for destruction through an authorized mail-back program under this subsection to open a package for identification of the contents of the package for purposes of a consumer incentive program. (ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term consumer incentive program . (b) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General of the United States shall finalize such revisions to regulations as may be necessary to carry out section 302(g)(2)(C) of the Controlled Substances Act, as added by subsection (a), including by revising section 1317.70(f) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations. (c) Applicability Section 302(g)(2)(C) of the Controlled Substances Act, as added by subsection (a), applies beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 3. Option of transporting controlled substances received through mail-back disposal program to another location for destruction (a) In general Section 302(g)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 822(g)(2) (D) Such regulations shall give persons who are authorized to collect controlled substances from ultimate users and other non-registrants for destruction through an authorized mail-back program under this subsection, in lieu of having and utilizing at their registered location an authorized method of destruction, the option of providing a secure method of transporting such substances to a location of destruction consistent with applicable regulations. . (b) Regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General of the United States shall finalize such revisions to regulations as may be necessary to carry out section 302(g)(2)(D) of the Controlled Substances Act, as added by subsection (a), including by revising section 1317.70(a) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations. (c) Applicability Section 302(g)(2)(D) of the Controlled Substances Act, as added by subsection (a), applies beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Reduce Exposure and the Threat of Unused Residual Narcotics Act of 2022 or the RETURN Act of 2022 This bill requires regulations that govern the disposal of narcotics by reverse distributors to be revised so as to allow these entities to open and inspect packages that are received through mail-back programs and to allow them to send the packages offsite for destruction.