Rep. Don Young, co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, has introduced the Gun Rights And Marijuana (GRAM) Act, with the aim of securing the Second Amendment rights of Americans living in states where weed is legal.
Under current law, using recreational or medicinal marijuana can disqualify a person from purchasing a firearm. A federal form that gun buyers fill out requires them to testify that they are “not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.” The form states that “The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or de-criminalized.”
According to Young, this potentially disqualifies Americans who use marijuana from gun ownership, or it forces them to risk perjuring themselves.
Young’s GRAM Act exempts those who use marijuana in states or on tribal land where it is otherwise legal. Alaska legalized adult-use marijuana in 2014, and most Americans now live in a state with some level of legalized use, despite continued federal prohibitions.
In addition to protecting Second Amendment rights, Young’s legislation also defends a state’s right to set their own cannabis policy.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
“When I was sworn into Congress, I took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States,” Young said. “That oath does not mean picking and choosing which Amendments to defend; it requires us as Members of Congress to protect the ENTIRE Bill of Rights.”
“Gun ownership is a significant part of Alaska’s culture and lifestyle,” he added. “When my constituents chose to legalize adult-use marijuana, they were not surrendering their Second Amendment rights. At a time when more individuals have been purchasing firearms for self-defense, sportsmanship, hunting, and countless other reasons, we have experienced a surge in state-level cannabis reforms.”
Young said the federal government “has no business unduly restricting responsible citizens from exercising their rights or restricting states from listening to their constituents and reforming marijuana laws.”
The GRAM Act is co-sponsored by Representatives Brian Mast (R-FL) and Rodney Davis (R-IL).
7 Comments
Haha. Ya like that’s going to work! everybody lies about drug use on backround checks. No need for legislation
That’s the same as asking HAVE you ever been hospitalized for alcohol use? Unless it’s specifically on record nobody has any way of knowing. Don you’re an idiot
I dont trust this swamp creature as far as I could throw him,,, What this will do will put all your info out and if you smoked in your life then the feds will squelch it and Young will say sorry I tried,,, Well Dons got enough to worry about as he damn well knew the Dominion cheat was on and when it comes out Oathtakers that said nothing about how they all knew that Communist China Iran Germany and Spain were involved in our election and Don knew about the interference , Hell we all knew but for him as a sworn in Congressman to say and do nothing is complicity and treason…. Maricopa is a hotbed and will send many to prison over Dominion and many in Alaska will be prosecuted for their part in the Treason….. You made your Bed you foolish greedy children now get your ass in it…. treasonous scum.
AMEN, JJ! I’m with you brother.
Gun rights protection, YES; but marijuana, NO. How about getting your priorities set right, Don? How about helping the State fix (or replace) its compromised voting machines and flawed mail-in ballot system? If not, perhaps it’s time to finally retire.
The government has no rights to interfere with anything in our personal lives, including guns and marijuana (or any other “illegal substance”. Coke a cola originally used cocaine and another common product (that I can’t remember the name of right now) used heroin. Marijuana was made illegal approximately 100 years ago because black people used it.
I am not saying I am for the use of any of these substances but, look at alcohol. Sure, some say that people using what are now classified as “illegal” drugs has certain costs for society as a whole; so does the legal drug alcohol. For that matter, look at how many are killed or seriously injured in automobile accident. Let’s ban it all – then life would be no fun ‘-)
Oh, I forgot to mention that Don and I discussed legalizing the “illegal” drugs. The “War on Drugs” was spending over $10 billion/year on this program which was not working. He told me that he and his fellow conservatives agreed but couldn’t do anything about it due to how it would make them look….guess he’s had some time to rethink that, at least partially?