Marijuana opponents will try everything they can to cling to failed policies. An example of that is occurring right now in Seattle, where a person was denied a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) because she admitted to using marijuana, which is completely legal now throughout Washington State for recreational purposes, and has been for a long time for medical purposes. Per Komo News:
With the denial came a letter for Richland Police Chief Chris Skinner who wrote Floyd was not eligible to receive a CPL because she had an authorization to possess cannabis. Skinner also cited Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(3) which prohibits any son who is an “unlawful user of, or addicted to any controlled substance” from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms or ammunition.
Skinner goes on to write that marijuana is listed in the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule I controlled substance and “there are no exceptions in Federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by State law.” Floyd couldn’t believe it.
This tactic was previously used in my home state of Oregon. Sheriffs in Washington County and Jackson County would receive applications for concealed carry permits and compare them to the registry for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP). If a person was determined to be a member of the OMMP, their permit application was denied. This led to numerous legal challenges.
The case in Washington is different in that Washington does not have a patient registry. The lady that was denied a permit was recognized by staff members, and the staff members demanded to see her patient license. The patient complied because she felt she had nothing to hide. The determination that the applicant was a medical marijuana patient was the sole factor that resulted in the denied application. I hope a lawsuit is soon to follow, and that the medical marijuana patient wins.
