I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8370 
To provide disaster assistance to cannabis businesses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 
Mr. BLUMENAUER (for himself and Mr. DEFAZIO) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 
A BILL 
To provide disaster assistance to cannabis businesses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Small Business Dis-
aster Relief Equity Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) CANNABIS.—The term ‘‘cannabis’’ has the 
meaning given the term ‘‘marihuana’’ in section 102 
of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802). 
(2) DISASTER
ASSISTANCE.—The term ‘‘dis-
aster assistance’’ means any service, grant, loan (in-
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cluding loan forgiveness), tax credit, tax deduction, 
or any other assistance— 
(A) made available in connection with a 
federally declared disaster; or 
(B) made available in connection with the 
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Pub-
lic Law 116–127; 134 Stat. 178), the CARES 
Act (Public Law 116–136; 134 Stat. 281), the 
Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care 
Enhancement Act (Public Law 116–139; 134 
Stat. 620), the Paycheck Protection Program 
Flexibility Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–142; 
134 Stat. 641), or Public Law 116–147. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
Rico, and any territory or possession of the United 
States. 
(4) STATE-LEGAL
CANNABIS
BUSINESS.—The 
term ‘‘State-legal cannabis business’’ means any per-
son that— 
(A) participates in any business or orga-
nized activity that involves handling cannabis, 
including the manufacture, production, posses-
sion, distribution, dispensation, administration, 
or delivery of cannabis; and 
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(B) engages in such activity pursuant to a 
law established by a State, a unit of local gov-
ernment, or an Indian Tribe that has jurisdic-
tion over the Indian country in which the activ-
ity occurs. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, a State-legal cannabis business shall not be 
denied disaster assistance administered by a Federal agen-
cy solely because the business is involved in the manufac-
ture, production, possession, distribution, dispensation, 
administration, or delivery of cannabis. 
(c) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of disaster as-
sistance described in subsection (a)(2)(A), this Act 
shall apply to any request for disaster assistance 
with respect to a Federal disaster declaration issued 
after December 31, 2019. 
(2) COVID–19 RELIEF LEGISLATION.—In the 
case of disaster assistance described in subsection 
(a)(2)(B), this Act shall apply to any request for 
disaster assistance under an Act described in sub-
section (a)(2)(B). 
(3) RETROACTIVE APPLICATION FOR DISASTER 
ASSISTANCE.—Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law or disaster assistance request deadline, the 
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head of each agency that administers disaster assist-
ance shall, to the greatest extent practicable, allow 
State-legal cannabis businesses to retroactively apply 
for such disaster assistance. 
Æ 
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