Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) prohibits any person who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance from possessing a firearm.
Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, though 24 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized recreational use as of 2024.
The Supreme Court ruled in the Texas case that the federal ban cannot be applied as broadly as the government argued, narrowing its reach against marijuana users.
Supporters of the ban argue that combining intoxicants with firearms increases risk of violence and accidental harm; opponents argue that occasional users pose no greater risk than alcohol users, who face no equivalent ban.
The ruling follows the Court's 2022 Bruen decision, which requires modern gun regulations to be consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation.