A landmark Second Amendment case before the US Supreme Court is sparking concerns among marijuana legalization advocates that the Trump administration’s defense of a 1968 gun ban could put millions of recreational cannabis users at risk of prosecution. The case, set to be heard on Monday, revolves around a federal law that prohibits any American who is an “unlawful user” of a drug from owning a gun.
The appeal has pitted President Donald Trump against the National Rifle Association, creating an unexpected alliance between Second Amendment groups and marijuana advocates. “Cannabis users are generally some of the least violent individuals in the country,” said Joseph Bondy, a prominent criminal defense attorney. “It’s unjust to disarm an entire group of people who consume cannabis, affecting millions of individuals.”
The case centers around Ali Danial Hemani, a dual US-Pakistani citizen, who was indicted in 2023 for violating the federal anti-guns-and-drugs law. Although the Justice Department accused Hemani of various crimes, including drug dealing and cocaine use, his indictment solely focused on an FBI search that uncovered a Glock 9mm pistol and 60 grams of marijuana.
