Supreme Court Bars Federal Gun Charges for Marijuana Users
A unanimous Supreme Court ruling expanding Second Amendment rights to marijuana users is a landmark legal development affecting tens of millions of Americans who use cannabis legally under state law, with immediate implications for federal gun law enforcement.
The Morning Brief · June 19, 2026 · Based on reporting by AP News
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that the federal government cannot criminally prosecute a person for possessing a firearm solely because that person uses marijuana. The 9-0 decision in United States v. Hemani — a case involving a Texas man who admitted to marijuana use during a gun purchase background check — struck down the application of a federal law banning drug users from owning firearms.
The ruling extends the court's recent pattern of expanding Second Amendment protections under the framework established in its 2022 Bruen decision. Justices found no historical tradition of disarming people based on drug use alone. The decision was unanimous across ideological lines. But the court's narrow framing left related prosecutions unresolved -- including cases involving harder drug use or other circumstances.
Sources
AP News — Supreme Court sides with marijuana user who wants to legally own a gun
The Supreme Court sided with a Texas marijuana user who wants to legally own a gun, the latest in a line of firearm cases from a court that has expanded gun rights.
Reason — SCOTUS Says Federal Prosecution of Marijuana-Using Gun Owner Violates the Second Amendment
A landmark 9-0 Second Amendment decision in United States v. Hemani.
The Hill — Supreme Court's narrow gun decision kindles divisions, more questions
The Supreme Court's unanimous ruling found the government cannot criminally prosecute a man for firearm possession simply because he admitted to marijuana use, but the decision was narrow and raised further questions.
