Legal Slice

The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Ali Hemani, a Texas marijuana user who argued that the law barring individuals who use drugs illegally from possessing guns violated the U.S. constitution’s Second Amendment. Hemani wasn't charged with any other crimes or accused of using the weapon under the influence. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, speaking for the court, said the law was far too broad and overly harsh. “The law automatically bans an individual from possessing a gun from the moment he becomes an unlawful user of any controlled substance until he ceases being one,” he wrote. “It doesn't matter what controlled substance an individual uses, in what amounts he does so, or whether his drug use has ever made him a danger to himself or others.” Cecillia Wang, legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union, welcomed the ruling. “Today's unanimous 9-0 decision makes it clear that the government cannot make it crime for people to own a gun, which the Supreme Court has held is a fundamental constitutional right, simply because they use marijuana,” she said. “With nearly half of Americans reporting marijuana use at some point in their lives, this ruling protects the rights of millions and curbs the government's ability to impose arbitrary and discriminatory penalties.”