The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a marijuana user seeking to legally own a firearm, marking another significant expansion of gun rights by the court. In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the justices sided with Ali Danial Hemani, a Texas resident charged with felony gun possession after admitting to regular marijuana use. Hemani was not accused of any other crimes or using the weapon while under the influence.
Background of the Case
The case centered on the 1968 Gun Control Act, which prohibits firearm possession for anyone who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance. This restriction previously led to the 2024 conviction of Hunter Biden, who later received a pardon from his father, then-President Joe Biden. Prosecutors had accused Biden of lying about his narcotics use in 2018 when purchasing a Colt Cobra handgun.
Legal Argument
Hemani argued that the federal law barring gun ownership for illegal drug users violates the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court's decision represents a loss for the Trump administration, which had defended the 1968 law despite opposing other gun restrictions.
The ruling underscores the court's ongoing trend of broadening firearm rights under the Constitution.
