Arkansas' recent law permitting medical cannabis patients to obtain concealed carry gun permits has triggered concerns at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF.
Arkansas Law vs. Federal Policy
Concern over public safety and potential conflicts with federal firearm regulations has ignited a debate on the interplay between medical marijuana use and gun ownership.
Arkansas' new law, in effect since August, explicitly states that medical cannabis patient status should not affect eligibility for concealed carry permits. However, this has drawn federal attention, particularly from the ATF.
ATF's Worries and Implications
Marianna Mitchem, chief of ATF's Firearms and Explosives Industry Division, expressed "public safety concerns" in a letter to Arkansas officials, reported local media.
The ATF seeks answers from Arkansas regarding how the state ensures that concealed handgun carry permit holders and applicants are not classified as "controlled substance users" and how it plans to align its law with the federal prohibition on firearm possession by individuals who use controlled substances.
The letter hints at a potential reevaluation of Arkansas's alternative gun permit policy if unanswered questions persist.
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash.
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