IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 163 
Urging action to increase equity within the legal cannabis marketplace. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 28, 2019 
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Ms. 
OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. KHANNA, and Ms. PRESSLEY) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Edu-
cation and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Urging action to increase equity within the legal cannabis 
marketplace. 
Whereas the communities that have been most harmed by 
cannabis prohibition are benefiting the least from the 
legal marijuana marketplace; 
Whereas a legacy of racial and ethnic injustices, compounded 
by the disproportionate collateral consequences of 80 
years of cannabis prohibition enforcement, now limits 
participation in the industry; 
Whereas 33 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
and Guam have adopted laws allowing legal access to 
cannabis, and 10 States, the District of Columbia, and 
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•HRES 163 IH 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have 
adopted laws legalizing cannabis for adult recreational 
use; 
Whereas a total of 47 States have reformed their laws per-
taining to cannabis outside of comport with the Schedule 
1 status of marijuana and its Federal criminalization; 
Whereas legal cannabis sales totaled $9.5 billion in 2017 and 
are projected to reach $23 billion by 2022; 
Whereas according to the American Civil Liberties Union 
(ACLU), enforcing cannabis prohibition laws costs tax-
payers approximately $3.6 billion a year; 
Whereas the continued enforcement of cannabis prohibition 
laws results in over 600,000 arrests annually, dispropor-
tionately impacting people of color who are almost 4 
times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession 
than their White counterparts, despite equal rates of use 
across populations; 
Whereas people of color have been historically targeted by 
discriminatory sentencing practices resulting in Black 
men receiving drug sentences that are 13.1 percent 
longer than sentences imposed for White men and 
Latinos being nearly 6.5 times more likely to receive a 
Federal sentence for cannabis possession than non-His-
panic Whites; 
Whereas, in 2013, simple cannabis possession was the fourth 
most common cause of deportation for any offense and 
the most common cause of deportation for drug law viola-
tions; 
Whereas it is estimated that less than 1 percent of the can-
nabis industry is owned or operated by people of color; 
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•HRES 163 IH 
Whereas applicants for cannabis licenses are limited by nu-
merous laws, regulations, and exorbitant permit applica-
tions and licensing fees in these States, which can total 
more than $700,000; 
Whereas historically disproportionate arrest and conviction 
rates make it particularly difficult for people of color to 
enter the legal cannabis marketplace, as most States bar 
these individuals from participating; 
Whereas Federal law severely limits access to loans and cap-
ital for cannabis businesses, disproportionately impacting 
minority small business owners; and 
Whereas some States and municipalities have taken proactive 
steps to mitigate inequalities in the legal cannabis mar-
ketplace and ensure equal participation in the industry: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Realizing Equitable 
& Sustainable Participation in Emerging Cannabis Trades 
Resolution’’ or the ‘‘RESPECT Resolution’’. 
SEC. 2. BEST PRACTICES AND STEPS TO ADDRESS DISPARI-
TIES IN THE CANNABIS MARKETPLACE PAR-
TICIPATION; ADDRESS, REVERSE, AND RE-
PAIR CERTAIN EFFECTS OF THE WAR ON 
DRUGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The House of Representatives en-
courages States and localities to adopt best practices and 
take bold steps referred to in subsection (b) to address 
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