Oklahoma state senator proposes bill to protect gun rights of medical marijuana users

Medical marijuana has been legalized in 33 states in the U.S. but one big conflict that some might not know is due to existing federal laws, it is illegal to both be a consumer of state legal cannabis while also owning a legal firearm. Due to the federally illegal status of cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act, it is on par with being convicted of a felony offense in being allowed to purchase or own a gun. This news doesn't sit well with many people as it did not with an Oklahoma state senator who recently proposed a measure to work around this problem.  If passed, Senate Bill 959 would allow any lawful medical marijuana license holder to also obtain a concealed carry license. The bill however does comply with the current law that no one who is under the influence of any substance prescription or illegal shall be allowed to carry a firearm. 

"Federal law still has marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, so you are considered a drug offender if you do use marijuana even for a medical purpose," said Sen. Dahm, R-Broken Arrow. "There’s a little bit of conflict between federal law and state law. This would clarify that on the state level, OSBI would not be able to use that as a reason to deny somebody from carrying a firearm if they get their concealed weapons permit.