Sure, state law may allow medical or recreational use. However, marijuana usage, under current federal law, makes you a prohibited person for firearms purchase and possession.
(GSL) – The Land of Lincoln’s new recreational marijuana law goes into effect on New Year’s Day. On that day, those who wish to partake in legal cannabis consumption may purchase to their heart’s content at state-licensed dispensaries. However, for firearms owners and aficionados, the new law comes with consequences.
Dispensaries will scan state-issued IDs of purchasers. That information will make it into State of Illinois databases. And just as with medical marijuana, Springfield shares that information with the feds.
Consumption of marijuana products puts the user into the prohibited person category when it comes to firearms purchase and possession.
If you have purchased recreational pot, even if you check “No” to question 11e of the Form 4473, the sale will be denied on the NICS background check, exposing you to a federal felony charge.
11e. Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance? Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside. [Emphasis original]
For now at least, pot users with valid FOID cards will probably be allowed to keep their guns by state and local authorities.
However, if the current crackdown on eligibility for a FOID card continues, look for a day to come where those purchasing marijuana, even for “legal” consumption in Illinois, will have their FOID cards revoked. Ditto for any concealed carry licenses held.
What’s more, even if you make a marijuana purchase and then cease using it at a future time, there is no current process we are aware of to have your name removed from that prohibited person status.
For now at least, until marijuana becomes legal at the federal level, the safest and most prudent course of action remains to avoid it if you wish to remain a lawful firearm owner.
Put another way: If you like your guns and want to keep your guns, avoid marijuana consumption.
This law is bullshit.. what if we get evaded by other countries…you are leaving us defenseless…we can’t protect our families? I dont have a gun dont want one in my house…
But I want one of my neighbors to have a bunch of them whether he smokes or not. Just incase stuff goes down everyone can be armed
So what your saying Steve is “incase stuff goes down” you expect your neighbors to make sure everyone can be armed? Not a chance in h*ll am I giving a gun to a neighbor so he can use it irresponsibly and have it come back on me. Get your own, get trained or stay a sheep and let the sheepdogs protect you….after they protect their own first of course.
A recent court case ruled Illinois’s FOID card requirements unconstitutional. It now will go to the State Supreme Court. Stay tuned.
If it is legal in Illinois, how could one become an unlawful user?
Its still illegal on the federal level and the 4473 form is a federal form, of course you could always lie on the 4473 about using pot, put now you have a nice felony to add to the list of things the nice guy from the government wants to talk to you about….remember he’s only here to help!
Look! You get THREE A DAY FREE anyways! SO why worry? Felony, Schmelony!
And, remember, kiddies, whenever the “nice man” or woman from the state or federal GUMMINT comes a’askin’ questions, do as the handsome law perfeser suggests you do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
NEVER. EVER. TALK to the cops. NEVER. THere is NEVER an upside to it. Insurance covers most any of your personal losses. No need to report it. If you are stopped, remain silent. If they knock on your door, say “NO!” and keep the door closed. SAY NO MORE.
Just because you buy the dope doesn’t ipso facto mean you’ve USED IT. The form question asks if you are an “unlawful user,” NOT whether you bought it for your dog who has cancer, or your mom, or whomever.
Where is an article on the attempted confiscation/registration b.s. going on in Virginia? Jon? It’s been going on for at least a week.
Illinois state representatives claim the information from the ID scans isn’t stored anywhere. That’s highly unlikely since data has a way of hanging around whether you want it to or not, but whether that data makes it to the Feds is questionable. Is there a primary source stating how the data from those scans is handled? Illinois State Police seem to indicate they’ve washed their hands of it, but who controls the scanners and what do they reference if they aren’t for the specific purpose of maintaining a database? Showing ID is one thing, why do they need to scan it creating a defacto digital papertrail?
Another secret way for the gun grabbing government to confiscate firearms.