The RESPECT Resolution is a House resolution urging states and local governments to adopt policies that address the unfair impacts of cannabis criminalization, particularly on communities of color. The resolution acknowledges that while many states have legalized cannabis and created a multi-billion dollar industry, the people and communities most harmed by decades of marijuana prohibition are being left behind and face barriers to participating in the legal cannabis market.

The resolution encourages states to take specific steps to fix these inequities. These include eliminating criminal penalties for cannabis possession, making licensing fees affordable for small business owners, prioritizing licenses for people with prior cannabis convictions or those most impacted by the war on drugs, and automatically expunging old cannabis-related criminal records at no cost. It also recommends that states reinvest cannabis tax revenue into communities hit hardest by drug enforcement—funding job training, reentry programs, and youth services. Additionally, the resolution calls on the federal government to work with the United Nations to remove cannabis from international drug control treaties, treating it as a legal commodity rather than a controlled substance.

This is a non-binding resolution, meaning it expresses the House's position and encourages action but doesn't create new laws or requirements. However, it reflects growing congressional support for cannabis reform and equity in how legalization is implemented across the country.