The PREPARE Act of 2025 establishes a federal commission to study and develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for cannabis, modeled after the alcohol industry, in preparation for the eventual end of federal prohibition.
John Hickenlooper
Senator
CO
The PREPARE Act of 2025 establishes a commission to develop a comprehensive framework for the federal regulation of cannabis, modeled after the systems currently used for alcohol. This commission is tasked with studying the impacts of prohibition and proposing solutions for banking, research, public safety, and tax policy to prepare the federal government for the eventual end of cannabis prohibition.
PREPARE Act Sets One-Year Deadline for Federal Cannabis Roadmap: Commission to Model Marijuana Rules After Alcohol Laws
The PREPARE Act of 2025 acknowledges a reality most Americans already see: the gap between state and federal cannabis laws is becoming a chasm. This bill doesn't legalise marijuana overnight; instead, it forces the federal government to stop winging it and start planning. Within 30 days of becoming law, the Attorney General must establish a 'Commission on the Federal Regulation of Cannabis' to build a framework for ending prohibition, specifically using the existing federal and state systems for alcohol as a blueprint.
Mapping the New Rules of the Road
The Commission has a massive to-do list that hits on the practical headaches of the current 'legal-ish' landscape. Under Section 4, they are required to solve the banking crisis that forces many cannabis shops to operate as cash-only targets for crime, and they must create a system for interstate commerce. For a small business owner in a legal state, this could eventually mean the ability to ship products across state lines or finally secure a standard business loan. The bill also demands a plan for 'cross-pollination' between hemp and cannabis crops, a technical but vital detail for farmers trying to protect their harvests.
Seats at the Table
This isn't just a group of DC bureaucrats. The membership requirements in Section 4 ensure a mix of perspectives, including the directors of the IRS and the FDA alongside experts in substance abuse and minority health. Crucially, the bill mandates that the Commission include a person formerly incarcerated for a non-violent cannabis offense and a medical professional with expertise in PTSD and pain management. This ensures that the people most affected by the 'War on Drugs' and those who rely on the plant for medicine have a direct hand in writing the new playbook.
The One-Year Countdown
Efficiency is baked into the timeline. Within 60 days, the Commission must open the floor for public comment, and within 180 days, they must hold a public hearing featuring testimony from both small-scale and multi-state cannabis operators. By the one-year mark, they must deliver a final report to the DOJ website detailing exactly how the federal government will handle taxes, product safety labeling, and youth access prevention. While the Commission doesn't have the power to write laws themselves, their report will serve as the official 'how-to' guide for Congress to finally flip the switch on federal prohibition.