Section 7503 - Dangerous drugs as grounds for denialA license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document authorized to be issued under this part may be denied to an individual who-
(1) within 10 years before applying for the license, certificate, or document, has been convicted of violating a dangerous drug law of the United States or of a State; or(2) when applying, has ever been a user of, or addicted to, a dangerous drug unless the individual provides satisfactory proof that the individual is cured.Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 545; Pub. L. 99-36, §1(a)(9)(D), May 15, 1985, 99 Stat. 68; Pub. L. 101-380, title IV, §4103(a)(2)(B), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 511; Pub. L. 115-232, div. C, title XXXV, §3545(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 2326.| HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES |
| Revised section | Source section (U.S. Code) |
| 7503(a) | 46:239a(a) 46:239b(a) |
Section 7503 provides that the issuance of a license, certificate, or document may be denied by the Secretary to any individual who has been convicted, within 10 years, of violating a dangerous drug law of the United States or to any individual who has been a user of a dangerous drug, unless the individual provides satisfactory proof of being cured. This includes PCP and LSD. See also the note to section 7704. However, the Secretary may deny issuing a license, certificate or document to the individual who has used or been convicted of a "controlled substance" such as LSD if that use or conviction occurred before the date of enactment of this Act.EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2018- Pub. L. 115-232 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of repealed subsec. (a) and subsec. (b) identical to present provisions. 1990-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101-380 struck out subsec. (a) which defined "dangerous drug" for purpose of this section as narcotic drug, controlled substance, and marihuana. 1985-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99-36 substituted "certificate of registry, or merchant mariner's document" for first reference to "certificate, or document".
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 101-380 applicable to incidents occurring after Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101-380 set out as an Effective Date note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters.