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[60]Local News

ATF: Until recreational cannabis is federally legalized, pot users cannot own
guns

[61]minnesota

By Caroline Cummings

Updated on: May 31, 2023 / 7:26 AM / CBS Minnesota
*
*
*

ATF says federal law prohibits marijuana users from having guns,
despite state legalization (BUTTON)

[62]ATF says federal law prohibits marijuana users from having guns,
despite state legalization 02:10

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The federal agency that regulates the firearms
industry sent an advisory on Tuesday warning that Minnesotans who use
marijuana cannot legally own firearms, despite [63]a new state law
legalizing recreational use.

Marijuana for adults is now legal in 23 states and [64]even more have
medical cannabis programs. But it's still a Schedule I controlled
substance under federal law on par with LSD and heroin.

The St. Paul office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives noted that distinction. It means people who smoke weed or
take marijuana edibles are "still federally defined as an 'unlawful
user' of a controlled substance," and therefore are "prohibited from
shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or
ammunition," the agency said in its release Tuesday.

"Until marijuana is legalized federally, firearms owners and possessors
should be mindful that it remains federally illegal to mix marijuana
with firearms and ammunition," said Jeff Reed, ATF's acting special
agent in charge of the of the St. Paul field division.

That warning from the ATF is concerning for Second Amendment rights
advocate Rob Doar, vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus.
He said he's long been aware of the state-and-federal cannabis
contradiction, whether it's for medical or recreational use.

Doar urges gun owners to be aware of the risks, even though [65]under
Minnesota's new law, sheriffs cannot deny someone a permit to carry
solely because they are enrolled in the medical cannabis program or are
an adult using marijuana.

[66]2nd Amendment rights advocates unpack ATF's cannabis comments 02:18

He pushed for the inclusion of that language.

"I think if [the ATF agents] weren't planning on enforcing it, they may
have just let it go and it would kind of be a wink-wink, nudge-nudge
that yes it's illegal, but much like other federal cannabis
prohibitions, we're not going to be enforcing it," Doar said. "The fact
that they sent out the notice is cause for some raised eyebrows."

Jason Tarasek, a cannabis attorney for Vicente LLP, said the federal
government has generally turned a blind eye and has "left states alone"
that have legalized marijuana. But he acknowledged the challenge for
gun owners.

"It's an interesting song and dance we're going through with the
federal government," he said.

He and Doar both want some clarity coming out of Washington, whether
that's through Congress or executive action in the Biden
Administration.

"It would be great to get some clearer guidance from the federal
government that would make people in legal markets more comfortable
that they don't need to be worried about the federal government
knocking at their door," he said.

But he doesn't think there will be federal legalization anytime soon.

The Obama Administration a decade ago issued [67]guidance, saying the
Department of Justice would not interfere in states that had legalized
marijuana [68]if it didn't interfere with their law enforcement
priorities. Then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions under President
Trump [69]rescinded it.

Read the ATF's open letter below:

[70]ATF Open Letter on Medical Marijuana by on [71]Scribd
In:
* [72]Marijuana
* [73]Gun Laws
* [74]Cannabis

[75]Caroline Cummings
[76]WEB-Caroline-Cummings.jpg

Caroline Cummings is an Emmy-winning reporter with a passion for
covering politics, public policy and government. She is thrilled to
join the WCCO team.
[77]Twitter [78]Facebook

First published on May 30, 2023 / 3:37 PM

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