Supreme Court Unanimously Affirms Gun Rights for Marijuana Users
On Thursday, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling that the federal government may not ban gun ownership solely because a person uses medical or recreational marijuana, as long as the individual is not considered dangerous. The decision clarifies that Second Amendment protections extend to marijuana consumers who comply with state law.
Arkansas Advocates Welcomed the Decision
Melissa Fults, a longtime marijuana advocate and gun owner from Hensley, said the ruling “should have happened a long time ago.” Fults, who helped pass the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment in 2016, noted that medical marijuana patients are “upstanding citizens” and deserve the same gun rights as users of other legal pharmaceuticals.
“You can do opioids and own a gun,” Fults said. “You can use any kind of legal ‘pharmaceutical drug’ and get a concealed license or buy a gun. But the government chose to say that a marijuana patient who is healthier, who’s not as messed up, who doesn’t have the side effects, who does everything better, couldn’t own a gun? It was ridiculous.”
Fults added that she hopes to regain her concealed carry license, which she surrendered after obtaining her medical marijuana card.
State and Federal Officials Respond
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin praised the ruling, emphasizing that the Second Amendment does not afford “second‑class protections.” In a statement from his office, Griffin wrote, “I applaud the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision today in support of the Second Amendment.”
U.S. Representative Rick Craig echoed that sentiment, stating, “The Supreme Court unanimously agreed that our Second Amendment rights are not subject to intrusive government rules and regulations. As a veteran and a hunter, I’ll keep fighting to protect the rights of gun owners.”
Holly Dickson, executive director of the Arkansas ACLU, described the decision as “a sensible ruling by a unanimous Supreme Court that will protect millions of people’s right.”
Industry Perspective Calls for Further Clarity
Bill Paschall, managing director of the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association, welcomed the ruling but noted its limits. “While today’s court decision is encouraging, it is not the clear signal many marijuana consumers desire,” Paschall said. He pointed out that the ruling’s language is “narrow” and “somewhat ambiguous,” leaving room for future interpretation.
Paschall highlighted a proposed revision to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Firearms Transaction Record (Form 4473) that would remove any reference to state‑authorized medical cannabis. “If adopted, the changes likely signal how the federal government views firearm ownership by medical marijuana patients and may create a clearer pathway for lawful gun ownership,” he explained.
Context: Medical Marijuana in Arkansas
Medical marijuana has been legal in Arkansas since 2016, when voters approved the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment with 53 % support. As of June 6, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 115,081 active medical marijuana cardholders in the state. Nationally, medical marijuana is permitted in 41 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, while recreational use remains prohibited in Arkansas.
Fults estimates that at least 50 individuals in the state currently use cannabis illegally to avoid losing their gun rights, a situation she believes the ruling will help rectify.
For the original reporting, see Here.
