On Thursday, the 4/20 cannabis holiday, a Republican congressman introduced a bill to protect Second Amendment rights for people who use marijuana legally in states. The bill would allow them to buy and possess firearms which they are currently prohibited to have under federal law.
Rep. Brian Mast, co-chairman of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and co-chairman of the Gun Rights and Marijuana Act (GRAM) on Thursday. This is the latest of a number of cannabis-related proposals that will be submitted in the lead-up to 4/20.
The bill, which was led by the late Rep. Don Young (R-AK), who Mast succeeded as a leader of the Cannabis Caucus–would amend federal law to ensure that marijuana users would not be deemed “unlawful users” of a control substance if they live in a state where cannabis has been legalized.
In the current law, anyone who admits to being a “lawful user” or marijuana is prohibited from purchasing, possessing, or selling firearms. This federal policy has been recently challenged in several federal court and found unconstitutional by two.
Mast stated in a release that “no one should have to choose between his rights. You have the right to bear weapons, and you also have a legal right to use marijuana in many states.” “Congress must legislate on the basis of reality. The reality is that people who use marijuana legally are treated like second-class citizens. This is not acceptable. “The government exists to protect people’s rights, and this bill does that.”
In many states you also have the right to use marijuana. No one should have to choose between two rights.
It’s for this reason that I introduced the GRAM Act, to protect the rights of legal marijuana consumers under the 2nd Amendment. #420DayYOUTUBE: https://t.co/fTLJEtC9LR pic.twitter.com/fxwQO30hMA
Rep. Brian Mast April 20th, 2023
Federal law enforcement does not actively screen gun owners for drug use, but one question on an ATF form, asks potential gun buyers: “Are You An Unlawful User Of, Or Addicted To, Marijuana, Any Depressant, Stimulant, Narcotic Drug, Or Any Other Controlled Substance?” Lying on the form is a crime.
In the last year the gun and marijuana issue was brought to the forefront by a number federal courts . The Justice Department had to defend the constitutionality of the ban, particularly in light of a U.S. Supreme Court decision where the justices created a more stringent standard for policies that sought to restrict gun rights.
A federal judge ruled in February that the ban on marijuana users possessing firearms was unconstitutional. He said that the reasoning of the federal government for maintaining the law was “concerning.” The DOJ has appealed that ruling.
Mast stated that “addressing this issue was of special importance for the veteran community.” No veteran I know would want to have to choose between a treatment option that is effective for PTSD and the ability to protect their family. The GRAM Act aims to ensure that no one is forced to make this choice.
The congressman also defended legislation in an interview with Fox Business. He reiterated that cannabis users are being “treated like second-class citizen–whether with gun ownership, whether with the banking system, or a variety of other things.”
He said: “We must move beyond this prohibition era, just as we did with alcohol in the past of our country.” “That’s the point we have to reach with cannabis in America.”
View the latest videos at Foxbusiness.com
Mast is also co-sponsoring in this session a separate Bill from Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), which would allow medical marijuana patients to buy and possess firearms.
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In the weeks leading up to April 20th, a number of marijuana bills were filed.
Reps. Dave Joyce, R-OH and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-NY have introduced a bill that would provide federal grants to encourage state and local marijuana exclusions.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR, filed a bill this week to give state-legal cannabis companies the same federal tax deductions as other industries. He told Marijuana Moment Wednesday that he believed reform would eventually generate revenue to the government.
Bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate re-filed bills on Wednesday to legalize marijuana for veterans.
Last week, Hakeem Jeffreys (D-NY), the House Minority Leader, and Joyce filed a bill to help prepare the federal government to legalize marijuana. The measure directs the Attorney General to create a commission that will study cannabis and make recommendations on how to regulate it in a similar way to alcohol.
At an event held in the Capitol Building , lawmakers including Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (DNY) spoke about the future of cannabis legislation. Schumer spoke about his plans to refile a federal legalization bill, and work on a package containing cannabis banking legislation and expungements.
Minnesota House to Vote on Marijuana Legalization Bill next week, sponsor Announces on 4/20
The article GOP congressman files bill to allow marijuana consumers to buy guns first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
