New GOP bill hopes to protect cannabis users’ Second Amendment rights

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The bill would ensure cannabis users in legal states can own and possess weapons

States, where cannabis is already legal, may undergo some changes in their amendments after a bill was recently introduced. Representative Don Young, along with two other co-sponsors, have begun the due process to introduce their bill HR 2830, which aims to protect the Second Amendment rights of cannabis users from being declared “illegal users” of a controlled substance prohibited from owning or possessing a weapon in states where consumption is approved by law.

This bill is known as the Gun Rights and Marijuana Act (GRAM) and was introduced on April 22. In a small clause intended for current federal law, it states that “the term ‘unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance ‘shall not include a person by reason of unlawful use of or addiction to marijuana.”

The exemption in this bill could only be applied to persons whose state permits the use of cannabis by adults who do not violate any local cannabis laws. Even under this new measure, marijuana will still be considered a Schedule I controlled substance, and in the case of any other drug use, the possession of firearms will be completely prohibited.

Young, co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, states that “the federal government has no business unduly restricting responsible citizens from exercising their rights or restricting states from listening to their constituents and reforming marijuana laws.”

He continues, “The GRAM Act closes this loophole. Since it deals with both gun rights and marijuana, there really is something to support for those on both sides of the aisle.” As of Thursday of last week, HR 2830 was already under the status of referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.