The Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of a Texas man who uses marijuana but wants to legally own a firearm, marking the latest in a series of decisions expanding gun rights. The justices unanimously sided with Ali Danial Hemani, who argued that a federal law prohibiting gun ownership by anyone who illegally uses drugs infringes on the Second Amendment. Hemani was not charged with any other crimes or accused of using the weapon while under the influence.
Impact on Federal Law
The decision is a setback for President Donald Trump's administration, which had defended the 1968 law despite opposing other gun restrictions. This law was also used in the case against Hunter Biden, who was convicted in Wilmington, Delaware, for purchasing a firearm while addicted to cocaine in 2018. He was later pardoned by his father, then-President Joe Biden.
Broader Context of Gun Rulings
This opinion follows a landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling that expanded gun rights, sparking numerous legal challenges nationwide. Since then, the Court has upheld a domestic violence protection law and strict regulations on ghost gun kits but struck down a ban on bump stocks. This term, the justices considered two firearm cases.
Shifts in Cannabis Policy
The legality and use of cannabis have also evolved significantly. Over half of U.S. states have legalized it broadly, and it is widely used for health purposes. However, recreational use remains federally illegal, even after the Trump administration reclassified medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug in April.
Standalone criminal charges for gun possession by drug users are rare; such charges are typically filed alongside other offenses. The case created unusual political alliances, with the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Rifle Association, and cannabis legalization groups like NORML supporting Hemani. Gun safety groups like Everytown opposed him, usually aligning with the Trump administration on Second Amendment issues.
