Title 46ShippingRelease 119-73

§7503 Dangerous drugs as grounds for denial

Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part E— - Merchant Seamen Licenses, Certificates, and Documents › Chapter CHAPTER 75— - GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND DOCUMENTATION › § 7503

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Officials can refuse to issue a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document if the person was convicted of breaking a U.S. or state dangerous‑drug law within the 10 years before applying. They can also refuse if the person has ever used or been addicted to a dangerous drug, unless the applicant gives acceptable proof at the time of application that they are cured.

Full Legal Text

Title 46, §7503

Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

A license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document authorized to be issued under this part may be denied to an individual who—
(1)within 10 years before applying for the license, certificate, or document, has been convicted of violating a dangerous drug law of the United States or of a State; or
(2)when applying, has ever been a user of, or addicted to, a dangerous drug unless the individual provides satisfactory proof that the individual is cured.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 7503(a)46:239a(a)46:239b(a) section 7503 provides that the issuance of a license, certificate, or document may be denied by the Secretary to any individual who has been convicted, within 10 years, of violating a dangerous drug law of the United States or to any individual who has been a user of a dangerous drug, unless the individual provides satisfactory proof of being cured. This includes PCP and LSD. See also the note to section 7704. However, the Secretary may deny issuing a license, certificate or document to the individual who has used or been convicted of a “controlled substance” such as LSD if that use or conviction occurred before the date of enactment of this Act.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of repealed subsec. (a) and subsec. (b) identical to present provisions. 1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–380 struck out subsec. (a) which defined “dangerous drug” for purpose of this section as narcotic drug, controlled substance, and marihuana. 1985—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–36 substituted “certificate of registry, or merchant mariner’s document” for first reference to “certificate, or document”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1990 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

46 U.S.C. § 7503

Title 46Shipping

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73