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Congress·In Committee·S. 3576

Congress proposes DOJ-led commission to plan federal cannabis rules, banking access, and safety standards

PREPARE Act of 2025

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • Creates a federal commission to map out how the U.S. could regulate cannabis if federal prohibition ends.
  • The commission must study topics like product safety labels, youth protections, impaired driving, and how cannabis businesses can use banks.
  • It also must look at harms from past cannabis arrests—especially for minority, low-income, and veteran communities—and suggest ways to fix them.
  • The commission must ask for public input, hold a witness hearing (including people previously incarcerated for non-violent cannabis offenses), and post testimony online.
  • The commission must post initial recommendations within 120 days and a final report within 1 year; it cannot make rules on its own.
Drug PolicyCriminal JusticeConsumer ProtectionSmall BusinessHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(10)
Farmer Rancher
Neutral
Cannabis User
Neutral
Criminal Record
Neutral
Military Veteran
Neutral
Veterans Benefits
Neutral
Chronic Illness
Neutral
Mental Health
Neutral
Child Tax Credit
Neutral
Student
Neutral
Tribal Member
Neutral

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Dec 18, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Dec 18, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 30 days after the act is enacted

Justice Department sets up the Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis

Starts the process that could lead to recommendations for national cannabis rules (but no immediate change to cannabis legality).

Within 60 days after the act is enacted

Commission begins taking public comments from stakeholders and the public

Businesses, patients, advocates, states, and tribal governments get an official window to submit ideas and concerns that may shape recommendations.

No later than 90 days after the act is enacted

Commission holds its first meeting and elects a chair and secretary

The commission becomes operational and sets its work plan and schedule.

No later than 120 days after the act is enacted

Commission publishes initial findings and recommendations online at the Justice Department

The public can see early ideas on issues like banking access, product safety labels, medical access, taxes, and how federal and state roles could work.

Beginning 120 days after the act is enacted

Second round of public comments on the initial recommendations

People can react to the draft ideas (for example, if a proposal would help small shops or create extra costs).

No later than 180 days after the act is enacted

Commission holds a public witness hearing with required types of participants

Testimony from licensed operators and people with past convictions becomes part of the public record and can influence the final recommendations.

No later than 1 year after the act is enacted

Commission publishes its final report and recommendations online at the Justice Department

Creates a detailed blueprint Congress and federal agencies could use later for nationwide cannabis regulation similar to alcohol.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

PREPARE Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 3576
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.