I
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3543
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 27, 2019
Mr. Golden introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business
A BILL
To ensure that certain entrepreneurial development services of the Small Business Administration are made available to cannabis-related legitimate businesses and service providers, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Access to Counseling and Training for All Small Businesses Act of 2019
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Definitions relating to cannabis-related legitimate businesses and service providers
Section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Definitions relating to cannabis-Related legitimate businesses and service providers
In this Act:
Cannabis
The term cannabis has the meaning given the term marihuana in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act.
Cannabis product
The term cannabis product means any article which contains cannabis, including an article which is a concentrate, an edible, a tincture, a cannabis-infused product, or a topical.
Cannabis-related legitimate business
The term cannabis-related legitimate business means a manufacturer, producer, or any person or company that is a small business concern and that—
engages in any activity described in subparagraph (B) pursuant to a law established by a State or a political subdivision of a State, as determined by such State or political subdivision; and
participates in any business or organized activity that involves handling cannabis or cannabis products, including cultivating, producing, manufacturing, selling, transporting, displaying, dispensing, distributing, or purchasing cannabis or cannabis products.
Manufacturer
The term manufacturer means a person who manufactures, compounds, converts, processes, prepares, or packages cannabis or cannabis products.
Producer
The term producer means a person who plants, cultivates, harvests, or in any way facilitates the natural growth of cannabis.
Service provider
The term service provider—
means a business, organization, or other person that—
sells goods or services to a cannabis-related legitimate business; or
provides any business services, including the sale or lease of real or any other property, legal or other licensed services, or any other ancillary service, relating to cannabis; and
does not include a business, organization, or other person that participates in any business or organized activity that involves handling cannabis or cannabis products, including cultivating, producing, manufacturing, selling, transporting, displaying, dispensing, distributing, or purchasing cannabis or cannabis products.
State
The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
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Entrepreneurial development services for cannabis-related legitimate businesses and service providers
Small business development centers
Section 21(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Services for cannabis-related legitimate businesses and service providers
A small business development center may not decline to provide services to an otherwise eligible small business concern under this section solely because such concern is a cannabis-related legitimate business or service provider.
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Women’s business centers
Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Services for cannabis-Related legitimate businesses and service providers
A women’s business center may not decline to provide services to an otherwise eligible small business concern under this section solely because such concern is a cannabis-related legitimate business or service provider.
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SCORE
Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: The head of the SCORE program established under this subparagraph may not decline to provide services to an otherwise eligible small business concern solely because such concern is a cannabis-related legitimate business or service provider.
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Veteran Business Outreach Centers
Section 32 of the Small Business Act is amended (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Services for cannabis-Related legitimate businesses and service providers
A Veteran Business Outreach Center may not decline to provide services to an otherwise eligible small business concern under this section solely because such concern is a cannabis-related legitimate business or service provider.
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