C ontinually, the federal government, most notably under the Obama administration, is having trouble maintaining the president’s pre-election promises to fix the problem with medical marijuana.
The most recent evidence of this came on September 21 when The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) released a memorandum to all gun dealers in the United States. The purpose: to inform them that they now MUST discriminate against lawful medical cannabis patients and DENY them their Second Amendment right to buy and possess a firearm for hunting or personal protection.
Put simply, the memorandum equates a lawful user of marijuana to an addict (which it terms as a legitimate threat to society) and thus should not be legally sold firearms. My take is that it’s a very far stretch to regard all medical marijuana users as addicts. The memorandum plays with a stereotype, saying that all marijuana users, whether using legal or not, are addicted, implying that they are in some way-shape-or-form a threat to society.
Take this perspective: Millions of people who don’t use marijuana are legally prescribed powerful painkillers and sedatives. These drugs are addicting, hands down. They are not only mentally addicting but also physically addicting to the patient. But does it make sense that these very people who are constantly under the influence of the drug’s powerful effects, those who rely on prescription pills just to get them through their day, should be allowed to enjoy a Second Amendment right like buying firearms over medical marijuana patients who simply want to hunt or have the assurance of self-protection in their homes? What’s happening here is discrimination. Is this OK?
I feel this new ATF memo can be viewed as a telling experiment that will result in an indication as to whether the National Rifle Association really does support a US citizen’s right to bear arms.
For our nation’s sake, let’s just hope they do.
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