Marijuanna users may soon be able to obtain concealed carry permits in colorado
Source: High Times - Keegan Williams
As the movement for adult-use cannabis legalization gains momentum across the United States, several courts are challenging the existing federal law prohibiting individuals categorized as "unlawful users" or addicted to controlled substances from possessing firearms. Even in states where cannabis is legalized, this restriction has been applied to cannabis users.
Colorado, being the first state to legalize adult-use cannabis, is once again at the forefront of cannabis-related initiatives. The pro-gun rights organization, Guns for Everyone, is pushing to include a question on the November 2024 ballot, allowing voters to decide if cannabis consumers should be eligible for concealed carry permits under state law. The organization, which provides free classes for concealed carry permits, argues that this is a matter of freedom, particularly considering Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis over a decade ago.
Guns for Everyone's Co-founder, Edgar Antillon, emphasized the discrepancy in treatment between alcohol and marijuana users, stating that while alcohol users can defend themselves, marijuana users are denied this right. Currently, sheriffs in Colorado cannot issue concealed carry permits to those considered "ineligible" under federal law due to cannabis use being classified as a controlled substance.
The proposed initiative seeks to amend Colorado law to prevent sheriffs from using an applicant's lawful use of marijuana as a basis for denying a concealed carry permit. At a recent Denver hearing, backers discussed potential changes to the measure before submitting it for review by the Secretary of State. If passed, the initiative aims to take effect in December 2024, although concerns were raised about the certification of election results by that time.
The initiative's backers expressed openness to adjusting the effective date or relying on a governor proclamation if certification delays arise. Additionally, questions were raised about the initiative's potential unintended consequences, such as removing references to other firearms restrictions, but Antillon clarified that these were not the proposal's intentions. The measure proposes determining unlawful cannabis use through state law rather than federal law, creating a divergence between Colorado's gun laws and current federal regulations.
The next steps involve acceptance and titling by the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, followed by the collection of 125,000 signatures to place the issue on the 2024 Election Day ballot.