This letter came to me from Bridget Spiddle from MPP. Please read if you don’t want to lose your second amendment rights for smoking a joint…ESPECIALLY since it’s legal in some form in 40 STATES!!
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President Trump’s appointed Solicitor General, D. John Sauer, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a draconian federal prohibition on gun ownership by cannabis consumers. Several courts have ruled that the ban on cannabis consumers possessing firearms violates the Second Amendment.
But in a recent filing, Sauer urged the high court to overturn those rulings, alleging cannabis users “pose a clear danger of misusing firearms.”
There is absolutely zero evidence to support the notion that cannabis use makes someone more likely to misuse a firearm, and we can’t stand by while the DOJ argues that cannabis consumers should be convicted of a felony for exercising their constitutional rights.
Under the extreme law that Sauer wants the court to uphold, patients and other cannabis consumers could face up to 10 years in federal prison if they possess a gun or ammunition.
While no one should condone handling a firearm while under the influence of any psychoactive substance, the solicitor general is attempting to strip cannabis consumers of their constitutional rights, even when they aren’t under the influence of cannabis.
The president has the power to put an end to this unconstitutional discrimination against cannabis consumers. In addition to instructing his solicitor general to drop the petition, President Trump should direct the DOJ to stop prosecuting cannabis consumers under the unconstitutional law — and advise the ATF to modify Form 4473, which strips cannabis consumers of the right to buy guns.
To send a message to the president, copy and paste our sample message below — or draft your own message — urging President Trump to halt the DOJ filing and undo the unconstitutional federal firearm ban for cannabis consumers:
President Trump,
Please direct the Department of Justice to withdraw its recent petition urging the Supreme Court to rule in favor of banning all people who use cannabis from their constitutional right to possess a firearm when they are unimpaired (U.S. v. Hemani).
No one should condone handling firearms under the influence of any psychoactive substance, but nor should the solicitor general call for violating the constitutional rights of Americans who are safely and lawfully possessing a firearm.
40 states have comprehensive medical cannabis programs, and 54% of Americans live in a state where cannabis is legal for adults. I was pleased to see you support Florida’s legalization ballot measure last year. I hope you agree that in a country that prides itself on freedom, it is unfair to strip constitutional rights from tens of millions of Americans who use cannabis as a medicine or to relax.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rightfully ruled that “disarming individuals solely for their prior, occasional, or habitual marihuana use does not [accord with our nation’s history of firearm regulations].” Your Justice Department should not be seeking to reverse this sensible ruling.
Please direct the Department of Justice to respect the Second Amendment. In addition to withdrawing the petition, the DOJ should stop prosecuting Americans who consume cannabis for possessing a firearm or ammunition. Please also direct the ATF to revise Form 4473 to remove the unconstitutional claim that a person cannot purchase a firearm if they are a cannabis consumer.
These directives are necessary to ensure that the Second Amendment rights of all Americans are protected by ending this discriminatory ban that threatens medical cannabis patients who exercise their fundamental right to bear arms with up to 10 years in federal prison.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
The failed federal approach to cannabis and cannabis consumers must come to an end. With your action and support, we’ll continue to stand up for cannabis consumers’ rights.
Bridget Spiddle
Public Policy and Communications Coordinator
