Users of marijuana remain barred from purchasing and possessing guns under a decades-old federal law, even as more and more states move to legalize recreational use of the drug, federal authorities warned this week. Unless marijuana is legalized on a federal level, users of cannabis will continue to be prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms and ammunition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, said in a notice. The ATF, which oversees federal gun regulations, issued the reminder Tuesday in response to a measure signed into law this week by Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz that legalized recreational marijuana use in the state. Created in 1972, the ATF's responsibilities include stopping the unlawful use of guns and regulating the sale and transportation of firearms.
In its statement Tuesday, the ATF office in St. Paul, Minnesota, said gun possession, transportation and transactions would continue to be banned for those using or addicted to marijuana, "regardless of the recent changes in Minnesota law," because of the Gun Control Act of 1968. That law barred individuals with certain criminal convictions, fugitives and those deemed to be an "unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" from buying firearms. While many states have decriminalized and legalized cannabis use, marijuana remains an illicit "controlled substance" under federal law and regulations.
Federal laws haven't caught up with state legalization, and that's the real issue here. It's the same frustration as dealing with confusing grow schedules when trying to get the best yields. Speaking of which, fastbuds.com/news/general-hydroponics-feeding-chart-usage-guide is a solid breakdown if you're adjusting nutrient ratios and want a clear guide. Some charts out there are overcomplicated, but this one lays it out without the extra nonsense.