I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2598 
To establish a Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis to study 
a prompt and plausible pathway to the Federal regulation of cannabis, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 13, 2023 
Mr. JOYCE of Ohio (for himself and Mr. JEFFRIES) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, Agri-
culture, and Financial Services, 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 establish a Commission on the Federal Regulation of 
Cannabis to study a prompt and plausible pathway to 
the Federal regulation of cannabis, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘Preparing Regulators 
Effectively for a Post-prohibition Adult-use Regulated En-
vironment Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘PREPARE Act of 2023’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:59 Apr 15, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2598.IH
H2598
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Cannabis was federally legal in the United 
States until 1937. 
(2) Cannabis was federally prohibited to codify 
discriminatory practices against minority commu-
nities. 
(3) Medical cannabis prohibition was estab-
lished despite objection from the American Medical 
Association. 
(4) 38 States and the District of Columbia have 
legalized cannabis for medical purposes. 
(5) 21 States and the District of Columbia have 
legalized cannabis for adult use. 
(6) Despite the Federal Government collecting 
revenue from the sale of cannabis, individuals are 
still criminally persecuted for its use. 
(7) Cannabis research, including research on 
medical uses, product safety, and impairment stand-
ards, is severely hindered and made nearly impos-
sible by its schedule 1 classification. 
(8) Cannabis should remain an adult product 
aside from the physician prescribed treatment of mi-
nors. 
(9) Cannabis has proven medically beneficial for 
patients suffering from pain, cancer, post-traumatic 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:59 Apr 15, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2598.IH
H2598
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
stress disorder, seizure disorders, and multiple scle-
rosis, among other diseases. 
(10) Since 2003, the United States Government 
by way of the Department of Health and Human 
Services has held a patent for medical cannabis as 
an antioxidant and neuroprotectant. 
(11) While the United States remains trapped 
in antiquated cannabis regulations, other nations 
and scientific competitors, including the United 
Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and 
Israel have modified their laws to allow for varying 
degrees of cannabis legality and medical research. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 
The President and Congress shall prepare the Fed-
eral Government for an inevitable and prompt end to Fed-
eral marihuana prohibition by establishing a commission 
to advise on the development of a regulatory framework 
with respect to marihuana regulation, including account-
ing for the different characteristics of communities, agen-
cies, and industries impacted by Federal marihuana prohi-
bition. Such regulatory framework shall be modeled after 
Federal and State regulatory frameworks with respect to 
alcohol. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:59 Apr 15, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2598.IH
H2598
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney Gen-
eral shall establish a commission to be known as the 
‘‘Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis’’ (in 
this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’) to study a plau-
sible and prompt pathway to cannabis regulation. 
(b) DUTIES OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) PROPOSAL
OF
MEASURES.—The Commis-
sion shall propose measures to alleviate and remedy 
the: 
(A) Impact of cannabis criminalization, 
particularly on minority, low income, and vet-
eran communities. 
(B) Lack of access to the financial service 
sector for cannabis entrepreneurs and their af-
filiated industries. 
(C) Lack of access to cannabis related re-
search, including research on medical uses and 
the effects of impairment. 
(D) Lack of access to medical cannabis 
and research, particularly with respect to Fed-
eral agencies. 
(E) Lack of medical cannabis training at 
publicly funded medical training centers. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:59 Apr 15, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2598.IH
H2598
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(F) Lack of consistent regulations for can-
nabis product and safety, use, and labeling re-
quirements, including requirements to protect 
youth and reduce harms to youth. 
(G) Lack of efficient cannabis revenue re-
porting and collecting, including efficient and 
tenable Federal revenue frameworks. 
(H) Lack of guidance for cannabis crop 
production, sale, intrastate, interstate, and 
international trade. 
(I) Lack of guidance regarding the suc-
cessful coexistence of individual hemp and can-
nabis industries, including prevention of cross 
pollination of cannabis and hemp products. 
(J) Any other barriers to Federal cannabis 
legalization identified by the commission. 
(2) PUBLIC COMMENT; PUBLIC WITNESS; RE-
PORTS.— 
(A) COMMENT PERIOD.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Commission shall solicit comment with 
respect to the regulation of cannabis from in-
dustry stakeholders, criminal justice reform ad-
vocates, substance use advocates, healthcare ex-
perts, State cannabis regulators, and the De-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:59 Apr 15, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2598.IH
H2598
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS