Skip to main content

Evans Introduces the Homegrown Act to Help Small Businesses, People of Color Share in Booming Cannabis Industry

June 28, 2019

Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2019) – Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03), who serves as the Vice Chair of the House Small Business Committee, introduced H.R. 3544, the Homegrown Act of 2019, a bill that would establish an Small Business Association grant program to provide state and local governments with funding to help small businesses navigate cannabis licensing and employment with a focus on communities most impacted by the War on Drugs.

Congressman Evans said, "My bill would act as a poverty-buster and help homegrown small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. We need to make sure that the booming legal cannabis industry does not become consolidated in the hands of a few big companies. My bill would help small businesses to participate in this industry and knock down barriers to jobs and entrepreneurship for people most adversely impacted by the war on cannabis, which has been especially harsh for people of color."

Additionally, HR 3544, the HomeGrown Act of 2019, would remove cannabis from the Schedule of Controlled Substances, effectively decriminalizing the substance.

On June 19th, the House Small Business Committee held a hearing on small businesses in the cannabis industry. More information can be found here.