The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether people who regularly use marijuana can legally own firearms, revisiting federal gun laws in light of its expanded interpretation of the Second Amendment.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear a case determining whether regular marijuana users can legally own guns, a key test of the court’s 2022 decision that broadened gun rights.
The Biden administration asked the justices to revive a case against Texas resident Ali Danial Hemani, who was charged with a felony for possessing a firearm while admitting to regular marijuana use. A lower court struck down the federal ban on gun ownership by drug users, ruling it unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s broader view of the Second Amendment.
Justice Department lawyers, however, argue the ban is necessary to prevent “serious public safety risks.” They said the FBI discovered Hemani’s gun and cocaine during a search linked to alleged communications with Iran, though no other charges were filed.
Hemani’s lawyers contend the law unfairly criminalizes millions, noting that “at least 20% of Americans have tried marijuana,” according to federal data.
The case could further define the limits of firearm regulation after the court’s 2022 landmark ruling, which declared that gun restrictions must align with the nation’s historical traditions.
A decision is expected later in the court’s current term.