Whatever your views on firearms, there’s no denying that gun ownership is a fundamental right. One Gallup poll estimates that Americans own nearly 400 million firearms, which equates into more guns than people. But few rights are absolute. Those who cannot legally receive or possess a firearm include convicted felons, fugitives from justice, someone who receives a dishonorable military discharge and those with domestic violence convictions. That list also includes marijuana users, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Advocates for legalized cannabis get a little huffy when reminded that legalization of marijuana is not absolute. The biggest problem is the disconnect between state laws, which are becoming more permissive, and federal law that lists marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance on par with LSD and heroin. That impacts firearms possession and purchases from licensed dealers, because of Form 4473. This asks whether the buyer is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substances.” If you lie on a federal application, you’ve committed a felony. If you’re truthful, the transaction can be denied.

The state of Pennsylvania pulls no punches in information provided to medical marijuana cardholders in that state: “To clarify, even if state law permits the use of medical or recreational marijuana, federal law prohibits marijuana users from using or purchasing a firearm. It’s as simple as that.”  [full article]