H.R. 2649House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Homegrown Act of 2021

To decriminalize cannabis, to establish an Equitable Licensing Grant Program in the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

Introduced April 19, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 1:50 AM UTC

The Homegrown Act of 2021 seeks to end federal criminal penalties for cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act and related statutes. It also creates a Small Business Administration grant program to help states and localities set up fair cannabis licensing systems that benefit people most harmed by past drug enforcement.

Key Provisions

  • Deletes “marihuana” and “tetrahydrocannabinols” from Schedule I, effectively taking cannabis off the federal drug schedule.
  • Amends the Controlled Substances Act and other federal laws to strip out all references to marijuana, ensuring legal consistency.
  • Directs the SBA to establish an “Equitable Licensing Grant Program” that provides funds to entities developing cannabis licensing programs that lower barriers for those most impacted by the war on drugs.
  • Grantees must include at least four of six equity elements, such as waiving application fees for first‑time applicants, prohibiting license denial based on cannabis convictions, limiting suspicion‑less drug testing, creating diverse licensing boards, and using cannabis tax revenue to support community nonprofits.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

October 19, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 19, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

April 19, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

April 20, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

June 9, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

June 15, 2021

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

October 19, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 19, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2649

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 19, 2021

Mr. Evans introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To decriminalize cannabis, to establish an Equitable Licensing Grant Program in the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Homegrown Act of 2021.

2.

Decriminalization of cannabis

(a)

Cannabis removed from schedule of controlled substances

Subsection (c) of schedule I of section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812) is amended—

(1)

by striking Marihuana; and

(2)

by striking Tetrahydrocannabinols,

and renumbering accordingly.
(b)

Conforming amendments to Controlled Substances Act

The Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 102(44) (21 U.S.C. 802(44)), by striking marihuana,;

(2)

in section 401(b) (21 U.S.C. 841(b))—

(A)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

in clause (vi), by inserting or after the semicolon;

(II)

by striking (vii); and

(III)

by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (vii);

(ii)

in subparagraph (B)—

(I)

in clause (vi), by inserting or after the semicolon;

(II)

by striking clause (vii); and

(III)

by redesignating clause (viii) as clause (vii);

(iii)

in subparagraph (C), in the first sentence, by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) and inserting subparagraphs (A) and (B);

(iv)

by striking subparagraph (D);

(v)

by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D); and

(vi)

in subparagraph (D)(i), as so redesignated, by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting subparagraph (C);

(B)

by striking paragraph (4); and

(C)

by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively;

(3)

in section 402(c)(2)(B) (21 U.S.C. 842(c)(2)(B)), by striking marihuana,;

(4)

in section 403(d)(1) (21 U.S.C. 843(d)(1)), by striking marihuana,;

(5)

in section 418(a) (21 U.S.C. 859(a)), by striking the last sentence;

(6)

in section 419(a) (21 U.S.C. 860(a)), by striking the last sentence;

(7)

in section 422(d) (21 U.S.C. 863(d))—

(A)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking marijuana,; and

(B)

in paragraph (5), by striking , such as a marihuana cigarette,; and

(8)

in section 516(d) (21 U.S.C. 886(d)), by striking section 401(b)(6) each place the term appears and inserting section 401(b)(5).

(c)

Other conforming amendments

(1)

National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986

The National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 559b et seq.) is amended—

(A)

in section 15002(a) (16 U.S.C. 559b(a)) by striking marijuana and other;

(B)

in section 15003(2) (16 U.S.C. 559c(2)) by striking marijuana and other; and

(C)

in section 15004(2) (16 U.S.C. 559d(2)) by striking marijuana and other.

(2)

Interception of communications

Section 2516 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(A)

in subsection (1)(e), by striking , marihuana,; and

(B)

in subsection (2) by striking marihuana.

3.

Equitable Licensing Grant Program

The Administrator of the Small Business Administration shall establish and carry out a grant program to be known as the Equitable Licensing Grant Program to provide eligible entities funds to develop and implement equitable cannabis licensing programs that minimize barriers to cannabis licensing and employment for individuals most adversely impacted by the war on drugs, provided that each grantee includes at least four of the six of the following elements in its licensing program:

(1)

A waiver of cannabis license application fees for individuals most adversely impacted by the war on drugs who are first-time applicants.

(2)

A prohibition on the denial of a cannabis license based on a conviction of a cannabis-related offense.

(3)

A prohibition on criminal conviction restrictions for licensing except in instances where the conviction is relevant to owning and operating a business.

(4)

A prohibition on cannabis license holders from engaging in suspicion less cannabis drug testing of their prospective or current employees, except in instances of drug testing for safety-sensitive positions as defined by the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 (Public Law 102–143).

(5)

The establishment of a cannabis licensing board, that is reflective of the racial, ethnic, economic, and gender composition of the State or locality, to serve as an oversight body of the equitable licensing program.

(6)

The establishment of a grant program from cannabis tax revenue to support non-profit community-based organizations that provide business training and technical, management, and marketing assistance to individuals most adversely impacted by the war on drugs who are starting, sustaining, or expanding a cannabis business.