1 _______________________________ _______________________________
2 Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.
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6 _______________________________ _______________________________
7 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.
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13 A BILL
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18 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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20 ____________________
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23 To amend, on an temporary basis, the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment
24 Initiative of 1999 to set aside medical marijuana facility registrations and to provide a
25 preference for the remainder of medical marijuana facility registrations for businesses
26 owned by returning citizens, and to create a more equitable medical cannabis industry
27 in the District.
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29 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
30 Act may be cited as the Returning Citizens Cannabis Equity Temporary Amendment Act of
31 2021.
32 Sec. 2. The Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1999, effective
33 February 25, 2010 (D.C. Law 13-315; D.C. Official Code 7-1671.01 et seq.), is amended as
34 follows:
35 (a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code 7-1671.01) is amended as follows:
36 (1) Paragraph (20A) is redesignated as paragraph (20B).
37 (2) A new paragraph (20A) is added to read as follows:
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38 (20A) Returning citizen means a person who is a resident of the District who
39 was previously incarcerated..
40 (b) Section 7 (D.C. Official Code 7-1671.06) is amended as follows:
41 (1) Subsection (d)(2)(A) is amended as follows:
42 (A) The existing text is designated as sub-subparagraph (i).
43 (B) New sub-subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) are added to read as follows:
44 (ii) At least one dispensary shall be set aside for
45 registration by applicants that have at least 51% ownership by one or more returning citizens and
46 that have met minimum criteria established by ABRA; provided, that the returning citizen or
47 citizens were previously incarcerated for the manufacture, distribution, or possession, with intent
48 to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance; and
49 (iii) The requirement set forth in sub-subparagraph (ii)
50 shall apply to registrations that are or become available after the applicability date of the
51 Returning Citizens Cannabis Equity Temporary Amendment Act of 2021, introduced on XX,
52 2021 (B24-XXX)..
53 (2) Subsection (d)(3)(A) is amended as follows:
54 (A) The existing text is designated as sub-subparagraph (i).
55 (B) New sub-subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) are added to read as follows:
56 (ii) At least one cultivation center and one testing
57 laboratory shall be set aside for registration by applicants that have at least 51% ownership by
58 one or more returning citizens and that have met minimum criteria established by ABRA;
59 provided, that the returning citizen or citizens were previously incarcerated for the manufacture,
60 distribution, or possession, with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance; and
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61 (iii) The requirement set forth in sub-subparagraph (ii)
62 shall apply to registrations that are or become available after the applicability date of the
63 Returning Citizens Cannabis Equity Emergency Amendment Act of 2021, introduced on XX,
64 2021 (B24-XXX)..
65 (3) Subsection (d)(5) is amended as follows:
66 (A) Subparagraph (A) is amended by striking the phrase or applicant
67 eligible to be a medical cannabis certified business enterprise and inserting the phrase an
68 applicant eligible to be a medical cannabis certified business enterprise, or a medical cannabis
69 business with at least 51% ownership by one or more returning citizens who were previously
70 incarcerated for the manufacture, distribution, or possession, with intent to manufacture or
71 distribute a controlled substance that is determined to meet the requirements of this paragraph
72 by ABRA in coordination with the Department of Small and Local Business Development in
73 its place.
74 (B) Subparagraph (B) is amended by striking the phrase medical cannabis
75 certified business enterprise and inserting the phrase medical cannabis certified business
76 enterprise or medical cannabis business with at least 51% ownership by one or more returning
77 citizens who were previously incarcerated for the manufacture, distribution, or possession, with
78 intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance in its place.
79 (C) Subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the phrase medical cannabis
80 certified business enterprise and inserting the phrase medical cannabis certified business
81 enterprise or a medical cannabis business with at least 51% ownership by one or more returning
82 citizens who were previously incarcerated for the manufacture, distribution, or possession, with
83 intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance in its place.
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84 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement
85 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact
86 statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved
87 October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code 1-301.47a).
88 Sec. 4. Effective date.
89 (a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by
90 the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review
91 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
92 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code 1-206.03(c)(1)), and publication in the District of
93 Columbia Register.
94 (b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
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