I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6896 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 2, 2022 
Ms. FOXX (for herself and Ms. ROSS) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Controlled Substances Act to improve con-
sumer 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 trans-
porting substances to another location of destruction, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reduce Exposure and 
the Threat of Unused Residual Narcotics Act of 2022’’ 
or the ‘‘RETURN Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. INSPECTION OF PACKAGES OF CONTROLLED SUB-
STANCES RECEIVED THROUGH MAIL-BACK 
DISPOSAL PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302(g)(2) of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 822(g)(2)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(2) In developing’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘(2)(A) In developing’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘Such regulations may not’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) Such regulations may not’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(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’ means a program providing 
ultimate users who return unused controlled substances 
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through a person described in clause (i) a financial or 
other incentive that is determined based on the contents 
of the returned materials.’’. 
(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 regula-
tions 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), ap-
plies beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. OPTION OF TRANSPORTING CONTROLLED SUB-
STANCES RECEIVED THROUGH MAIL-BACK 
DISPOSAL PROGRAM TO ANOTHER LOCATION 
FOR DESTRUCTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 302(g)(2) of the Con-
trolled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 822(g)(2)), as amended 
by section 2, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) Such regulations shall give persons who are au-
thorized to collect controlled substances from ultimate 
users and other non-registrants for destruction through an 
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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 loca-
tion of destruction consistent with applicable regula-
tions.’’. 
(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 regula-
tions 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), ap-
plies beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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