The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a broad federal restriction that prevented cannabis users from possessing firearms, marking another significant ruling in the court’s recent series of Second Amendment decisions.
In a unanimous judgment, the justices sided with Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas resident who challenged a federal statute that bars people who regularly use illegal drugs from owning guns. Hemani argued that the measure violated constitutional protections for firearm ownership.
Writing for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the government cannot automatically treat all cannabis users as dangerous individuals. He noted that Hemani had not been accused of any violent offense, and there was no evidence he handled a firearm while impaired.
Following the ruling, Hemani’s attorney, Zachary Newland, said his client was relieved to finally bring the legal battle to an end.
The decision represents a setback for the Trump administration, which defended the law even while opposing several other firearm regulations. Gorsuch rejected the government’s reasoning, concluding that its justification could not withstand constitutional scrutiny.
According to the opinion, the original purpose of the 1968 statute was to prevent dangerous individuals from accessing weapons. However, the court found that such a broad classification no longer reflects modern realities, given the widespread use of cannabis in the U.S. While cannabis remains prohibited under federal law, many states have legalized recreational use, and medical marijuana programs are common nationwide.
Gorsuch noted that federal authorities have largely tolerated these developments, making it difficult to argue that millions of cannabis users should automatically be viewed as unusually dangerous.
The ruling does not completely shield drug users from prosecution. The court clarified that individuals who are addicted to illegal substances or are actively intoxicated may still face legal restrictions involving firearms. Prosecutors may also pursue charges when evidence suggests a person poses a genuine threat to public safety.
The law previously gained national attention during the case involving Hunter Biden, who was convicted of purchasing a firearm while struggling with cocaine addiction. He later received a presidential pardon from his father, former President Joe Biden.
The case attracted support from groups that rarely find themselves on the same side of legal disputes. The National Rifle Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and marijuana reform advocates backed Hemani’s challenge. Meanwhile, organizations focused on gun safety argued in favor of maintaining the restriction.
Civil liberties and gun rights groups celebrated the outcome, while opponents warned it could undermine public safety. The ruling adds to a growing body of Supreme Court decisions on firearms following the court’s landmark 2022 expansion of gun rights, which sparked numerous constitutional challenges across the country.
Marijuana firms, such as Green Thumb Industries Inc. (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), are likely to welcome the court decision because it marks yet another way through which the vestiges of marijuana prohibition are gradually being reversed.
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