Cannabis Conflict

Americans shouldn’t lose rights, face federal charges for using marijuana in states where it is legal

On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Waltz signed legislation making Minnesota the latest state to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Minnesota joins 22 other states in allowing recreational cannabis.

“What we know right now is prohibition does not work. We’ve criminalized a lot of folks.” Waltz said at the signing ceremony, adding that adults should have the choice about whether to use marijuana.

But whether to use cannabis, either for medicinal purposes or just for fun is not the only choice.

That’s because federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. And in the eyes of the feds that makes it no different from heroin or LSD. And nothing the states do changes that.

Federal law also prohibits anyone who uses drugs illegal under federal law from “shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition.”

So if you use cannabis — even if you have a state medical card or it’s legal for recreational purposes where you live — you can’t legally own a firearm.

Heck of a choice.

In the wake of the new legislation, St. Paul’s ATF office issued a statement to remind Minnesota residents of the law.

“Regardless of the recent changes in Minnesota law related to the legalization of marijuana, an individual who is a current user of marijuana is still federally defined as an “unlawful user” of a controlled substance and therefore is prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition,” it read. “Federal law does not provide any exception allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes.”

Now, so far the feds haven’t been going doorto-door looking for pot and pistols. And chances are they won’t. But if you by chance have an encounter with law enforcement and are found to have marijuana and a firearm, you could be looking at prison time.

More and more states are legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes. A reasonable person can be for or against that. But this kind of conflict between state and federal law doesn’t do anyone any good.

It’s up to Congress to fix this. Americans should not lose their Second Amendment rights and face federal legal jeopardy for doing something completely legal in their home state.