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This ought to set off an interesting discussion.
:rolleyes:
ATF letter to FFLs makes it clear: No guns for pot users
As if it didn’t have enough trouble, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has opened a new can of worms with a Sept. 21 letter to Federal Firearms Licensees explaining that medical marijuana users are prohibited from buying or even possessing firearms or ammunition.
ATF letter to FFLs makes it clear: No guns for pot users - Seattle gun rights | Examiner.com
Same rules should apply to this that applies to alcohol in my opinion, I somewhat agree with this because I don't believe chemically altered minds and firearms mix very well.
"ATF says pot users cannot own, buy guns"
The ATF has reserved that right for Mexican drug runners. :hand5:
If they legalize it, it should be handled just like alcohol and other prescription drugs... under the influence? crime to have on eon your person or be handling one.
Unless I'm mistaken, there has been a question about marijuana use on the form 4473 for as long as I can remember,
and I'm getting pretty old.
It's in that list of questions that if you answer "yes" you don't get the gun.
Given current Federal law I think ATF has no choice on this.
My own views are far more "libertarian" on gun issues and on drug issues, but the law is what it is.
In short, I think it is past time to let people stick whatever dang garbage they want into their bodies, shoot
peanut butter into their veins if that's what they want, so long as they don't misbehave while under the influence.
Guns and mind altering drugs don't mix, but one need not preclude the other if handled in a responsible way. That is, don't go near the gun when you are drunk, high, buzzed, excited, incoherent.
Thunder71 said it all in post 2: " Same rules should apply to this that applies to alcohol in my opinion,"
I agree across the board...Quote:
Originally Posted by Hopyard
Regardless of state laws, Federal law prohibits the possession and use of marijuana. So, the ATF has to comply.Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveWorkman
We have laws to deal with crime, but too many defendants have successfully reduced their punishment by claiming to be "under the influence" and "I didn't know what I was doing."
Rather than holding them fully accountable anyway, the logical solution is clearly to continue being lenient and simply increase gov power over people's choices. Yeah, that makes all kinds of sense. But politicians put it out there and people keep eating it up.
ATF should not strip Bona Fide, medical marijuana card-holding citizens of their 2A rights without due process. Those ATF bureacrats don't weigh the downside of their decisions. Prohibit America's Tyranical Feds.
Good work, Mr. Workman.:hand5:
The ATF has no choice. Federal law does not recognize medical marijuana.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pistology
Is it right? I'd say no. But it is the law, and until the law is changed, the ATF has no right to ignore it.
Matt
It all stems from the fact that the DEA refuses to remove marijuana from the Schedule I classification (C-I) which means no legitimate medicinal use (same as heroin & LSD).
Schedule I,
a category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use. Among the substances so classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration are mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, heroin, and marijuana. Special licensing procedures must be followed to use these or other Schedule I substances.
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.
Schedule I,
A category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use. Included are heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and marijuana.
Schedule II,
A category of drugs considered to have a strong potential for abuse or addiction but that also have legitimate medical use. Included are opium, morphine, and cocaine.
Schedule III,
A category of drugs that have less potential for abuse or addiction than Schedule I or II drugs and have a useful medical purpose. Included are short-acting barbiturates and amphetamines.
Schedule IV,
A medically useful category of drugs that have less potential for abuse or addiction than those of Schedules I, II, and III. Included are diazepam (valium) and chloral hydrate.
Schedule V,
A medically useful catiegory of drugs that have less potential for abuse or addiction than those of Schedules I through IV. Included are antidiarrheals and antitussives with opioid derivatives.
Free Medical Dictionary
For years they have been trying to get it put into at least the Schedule II category, if not Schedule III, because there is clearly a legitimate medicinal use as an anti-nausea drug (anti-emetic), as well as analgesic qualities which has been well documented in the medical literature for decades. There is no legitimate reason it should still hold Schedule I classification.
DEA refuses to reclassify it solely for political reasons as well as big tobacco lobbyists.
Regardless of what individual states choose to legalize as long as the DEA refuses to reclassify it, the Federal law will trump state laws.
BATF & DEA are two agencies among many, which wield great political power. Among them we can add Dept. of Labor, EPA, Dept. of Education & Dept. of Commerce.
Considering some of the recent escapades of the ATF one has to wonder what they were smoking themselves. :scratchchin:
You're right, of course. And you seem to know that this Marijuana-as-a-Schedule-I drug law is born of politics. This may change some day.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattInFla
As it is, if one gets a prescription for medical marijuana, he has a legal obligation to call the police to pick up his firearms and to take them away. So what happens if the law changes? Does he get them back?
Drug War is Alice in Wonderland - especially the way the ATF fights it. I hope that their mommas are proud of them.
Ahh the Drug War. It's really working isn't it?