H.R. 2935 — PREPARE Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings on cannabis, including its federal legality until 1937; prohibition linked to discrimination against minority communities despite medical objections; legalization for medical use in 38 states and the District of Columbia and for adult use in 21 states and the District of Columbia; ongoing federal criminal penalties despite revenue collection; Schedule I status impeding research on medical uses, safety, and impairment; medical benefits for conditions such as pain, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, seizure disorders, and multiple sclerosis; a U.S. government patent since 2003 for cannabis as an antioxidant and neuroprotectant; and more permissive laws in countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Germany, and Israel.

This section directs the President and Congress to establish a commission to advise on developing a regulatory framework for marijuana modeled after federal and state alcohol regulatory frameworks, accounting for characteristics of communities, agencies, and industries affected by federal marijuana prohibition, in preparation for ending such prohibition.

This section establishes the Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis, to be created by the Attorney General not later than 30 days after enactment of the Act, to propose measures addressing impacts of cannabis criminalization (particularly on minority, low-income, and veteran communities); barriers to financial services, research, medical cannabis access and training, product safety regulations, revenue collection, production and trade guidance, and hemp-cannabis coexistence; and other barriers to federal legalization. The Commission must (1) solicit public comment from specified stakeholders not later than 60 days after enactment; (2) hold public witness hearings not later than 180 days after enactment, including testimony from state-licensed cannabis operators, multistate operators, and individuals incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offenses; (3) publish initial findings and recommendations not later than 120 days after enactment; (4) solicit additional public comment thereafter; and (5) publish final recommendations not later than one year after enactment—all posted on the Department of Justice website and modeling alcohol-like regulation respecting state, tribal, and federal roles. Membership consists of six appointees: (1) one by the Senate majority leader (formerly incarcerated for nonviolent cannabis offense); (2) one by the Senate minority leader (substance abuse prevention expert); (3) one by the House minority leader (cannabis criminalization expert); (4) one by the House majority leader (medically licensed cannabis researcher); and (5) one by the Attorney General (DOJ cannabis criminalization expert); with the sixth from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco (text cuts off).