partment of Justice of each State or Tribal gov-
ernment. 
(B) PUBLIC WITNESS HEARING.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Commission shall convene a 
public witness hearing and solicit written 
or verbal testimony from: 
(I) Not less than two unique in-
dividuals or entities, who are not em-
ployed by the Federal Government, 
and represent a State legal operation 
that is licensed by a single State to 
sell, produce, manufacture, process, 
cultivate, or transport cannabis. 
(II) Not less than two unique in-
dividuals or entities, who are not em-
ployed by the Federal Government, 
and represent a State legal operation 
with a multi-State presence that is li-
censed by such States to sell, produce, 
manufacture, process, cultivate, or 
transport cannabis. 
(III) An individual who was con-
victed and incarcerated by the Federal 
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Government for a non-violent offense 
with respect to cannabis. 
(IV) An individual who was con-
victed and incarcerated by a State for 
a non-violent offense with respect to 
cannabis. 
(ii) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—Written 
and verbal testimony under clause (i) shall 
be made publicly available in the final rec-
ommendations published under paragraph 
(5). 
(3) 
INITIAL
REPORT
AND
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall 
publish initial findings and recommendations pursu-
ant to section 4(b), including an identification of 
barriers to and suggestions for regulating cannabis 
in a way that is similar to the regulation of alcohol 
with respect to the rights of State, Tribal, and the 
Federal Government, on the internet website of the 
Department of Justice. 
(4) ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.— 
Beginning 120 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commission shall solicit additional 
public comment from stakeholders identified pursu-
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ant to paragraph (2)(A) with respect to the initial 
recommendations published pursuant to paragraph 
(3). 
(5) FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Commission shall publish a report including 
findings and recommendations pursuant to section 
4(b), including an identification of barriers to and 
suggestions for regulating cannabis in a way that is 
similar to the regulation of alcohol, on the internet 
website of the Department of Justice. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of the following members: 
(1) The majority leader of the Senate shall ap-
point one member who is not employed by the Fed-
eral Government and was formerly incarcerated for 
a non-violent crime with respect to cannabis use or 
possession. 
(2) The minority leader of the Senate shall ap-
point one member who is not employed by the Fed-
eral Government and is an expert in substance abuse 
prevention. 
(3) The minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives shall appoint one member who is not 
employed by the Federal Government and is an ex-
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pert in the history of cannabis criminalization and 
the impact of criminalization on various commu-
nities, particularly minorities, medical patients, and 
veterans. 
(4) The majority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives shall appoint one member who is not 
employed by the Federal Government and who is 
medically licensed with substantial knowledge and 
demonstrated research into cannabis use and med-
ical treatments. 
(5) The Attorney General shall appoint one 
member from the Department of Justice, who is an 
expert in the history of cannabis criminalization and 
the impact of criminalization on various commu-
nities, particularly minorities, medical patients, and 
veterans. 
(6) The Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, To-
bacco, Firearms and Explosives. 
(7) The Director of the National Highway Traf-
fic Safety Administration. 
(8) The Secretary of Education shall appoint 
one member from the Department of Education who 
is an expert in prevention of youth access to alcohol 
and tobacco. 
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(9) The Director of Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration. 
(10) The Secretary of Agriculture shall appoint 
one member from the Department of Agriculture 
who is an expert on cannabis and hemp cultivation. 
(11) The Commissioner of the Food and Drug 
Administration. 
(12) The Director of the Alcohol and Tobacco 
Tax and Trade Bureau. 
(13) The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue 
Service. 
(14) The United States Trade Representative. 
(15) The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint 
one member from the Department of Commerce who 
is an expert on regulated goods in interstate com-
merce. 
(16) The Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices shall appoint one member employed by the De-
partment of Health and Human Services who is an 
expert on medical cannabis use and access. 
(17) The Director of the National Institutes of 
Health. 
(18) The Secretary of the Veterans Affairs shall 
appoint one member from the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs with knowledge of treatments for pain 
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management and post-traumatic stress disorder and 
for providing patients with affordable treatment op-
tions. 
(19) The Deputy Secretary of the Interior. 
(20) The Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration shall appoint one member employed 
by the Small Business Administration who is an ex-
pert in creating industry access for historically 
marginalized communities. 
(21) The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology. 
(22) One representative from a trade organiza-
tion or other non-profit entity with members from 
multiple, highly regulated adult goods and consumer 
package goods, appointed by the Attorney General. 
(23) Two representatives who have worked to 
develop two successful, separate, and unique State- 
level regulatory systems, appointed by the Attorney 
General. 
(d) LEADERSHIP.— 
(1) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson shall be 
elected by the members of the Commission at the 
first meeting of the Commission. 
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(2) SECRETARY.—The Secretary shall be elect-
ed by the members of the Commission at the first 
meeting of the Commission. 
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Chairperson 
or Secretary position shall be filled in the manner in 
which the original appointment was made by the re-
maining members of the Commission. 
(e) MEMBERSHIP BY POLITICAL PARTY.—If after the 
Commission is appointed there is a partisan imbalance of 
Commission members, the congressional leaders of the po-
litical party with fewer members on the Commission shall 
jointly name additional members to create partisan parity 
on the Commission. 
(f) APPOINTMENTS; REMOVALS; VACANCIES.— 
(1) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.—Each initial 
appointment to the Commission shall be made no 
later than 30 days after the Commission is estab-
lished. If any appointing authorities fail to appoint 
a member to the Commission, their appointment 
shall be made by the Attorney General. 
(2) REMOVAL.—A member of the Commission 
may be removed from the Commission at any time 
by the appointing authority should the member fail 
to meet Commission attendance requirement pursu-
ant to subsection (g). 
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(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made prior to the date of the Com-
mission’s next meeting. 
(g) MEETING REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) FIRST
MEETING.—The Commission shall 
have its first meeting no later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) QUARTERLY MEETINGS.—The Commission 
shall meet quarterly. In addition to all quarterly 
meetings, the Commission shall meet at other times 
at the call of the Chairperson or as determined by 
a majority of Commission members. 
(3) QUORUM; RULE FOR VOTING ON FINAL AC-
TIONS.—A majority of the members of the Commis-
sion constitute a quorum, and an affirmative vote of 
a majority of the members present is required to 
issue recommendations. 
(4) ATTENDANCE BY MEMBERS.—Members are 
expected to attend all Commission meetings. In the 
case of an absence, members are expected to report 
to the Chairperson prior to the meeting and allow-
ance may be made for an absent member to partici-
pate remotely. Members will still be responsible for 
fulfilling prior commitments, regardless of attend-
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ance status. If a member is absent twice in a given 
year, he or she will be reviewed by the Chairperson 
and appointing authority and further action will be 
considered, including removal and replacement on 
the Commission. 
(h) MINUTES.—Minutes shall be taken at each meet-
ing by the Secretary, or in that individual’s absence, the 
Chairperson shall select another Commission member to 
take minutes during that absence. 
(i) ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.—The Attorney 
General shall provide staff and administrative support to 
the Commission. All entities of the United States Govern-
ment shall provide information that is otherwise a public 
record at the request of the Commission. 
(j) NO RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.—The Commission 
shall not have rulemaking authority. 
(k) PROHIBITION OF COMPENSATION.— 
(1) FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES.—Members of the 
Commission who are full-time officers or employees 
of the United States may not receive additional pay, 
allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on 
the Commission. 
(2) OTHER MEMBERS.—Members of the Com-
mission who are not full-time officers or employees 
of the United States may not receive additional pay, 
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allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on 
the Commission. 
(l) 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) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, and any territory or possession of the United 
States. 
(3) TRIBAL GOVERNMENT.—The term ‘‘Tribal 
government’’ means the recognized governing body 
of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, 
pueblo, village, community, component band, or com-
ponent reservation, individually identified (including 
parenthetically) in the list published most recently as 
of the date of enactment of this paragraph pursuant 
to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian 
Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131). 
Æ 
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