RESPECT Resolution
Sponsored By: Representative Carter (LA)
Introduced
Summary
Equity-centered cannabis policy: This resolution would urge states and localities to adopt steps to repair harms from the War on Drugs and make the legal cannabis market fairer and more inclusive. It lays out recommended practices on licensing, expungement, reinvestment, worker protections, and public education.
Show full summary
- Communities harmed by cannabis enforcement: Recommends automatic, no-cost expungement or sealing for cannabis offenses, a process for resentencing or redesignation where penalties have been reduced, and protections so public benefits are not denied because of cannabis convictions.
- Local governments and markets: Urges decentralizing licensing to cities and counties, using local control with state minimum standards, and prioritizing licenses for local residents when caps are unavoidable, including those with income below 80% of county median or prior involvement with the criminal legal system.
- Small businesses and entrepreneurs: Calls for licensing fees that cover only program costs, promotes small cultivator participation, and proposes a special fund from cannabis tax revenue to invest in businesses owned by people of color entering the legal market.
- Workers and people under supervision: Recommends removing broad felony-based licensing bans, banning use of prior cannabis convictions to deny licenses or employment, eliminating suspicionless drug testing for non-safety-sensitive jobs, and stopping penalties for conduct allowed under state cannabis laws while on parole or probation.
- Public health and international policy: Encourages robust public education on legal, health, youth prevention, and impaired driving issues, and asks the President to press the U.S. Mission to the United Nations to pursue descheduling and study international impacts.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Clear cannabis records and decriminalize
If adopted by the House, this resolution would urge States and localities to end criminal penalties for cannabis possession and use. It would urge rules that stop denial of public benefits because of a cannabis conviction. It would urge an automatic, no-cost process to expunge or seal cannabis records, including people on parole or probation, with notice and certification. It would also urge processes for resentencing people serving cannabis sentences, allow medical cannabis in prison when a doctor recommends it, and end random drug testing for non‑safety jobs.
Fair work rules for cannabis workers
If adopted by the House, this resolution would urge States and localities to adopt fair labor standards for the cannabis industry. Workers would be encouraged to get better pay, hours, and workplace protections under those policies.
Local cannabis licenses and funding
If adopted by the House, this resolution would urge States and localities to give cities and counties control of cannabis licensing within State minimums. It would urge fees be limited to program and regulation costs and remove broad felony bars while preventing prior cannabis convictions from automatically denying licenses. It would urge local priority in scarce-license areas for long-term residents and people with income under 80% of county median, support small cultivators, allow licensed public consumption spaces, and set aside a percentage of cannabis tax revenue for reinvestment and a fund for small businesses owned by people of color.
Public education on cannabis safety
If adopted by the House, this resolution would urge States and localities to run public education campaigns about cannabis law and health. Campaigns would include consumer safety, youth-access prevention, and messages to prevent cannabis-impaired driving.
U.S. push to remove cannabis controls
If adopted by the House, this resolution would express the sense that the President should ask the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Vienna to seek descheduling of cannabis from international drug treaties, study treaty impacts, and treat cannabis as a legal commodity in international fora. This is a diplomatic request and would not create immediate money effects for most households.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Carter (LA)
LA • D
Cosponsors
Omar
MN • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Jayapal
WA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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