This is a question that I get a lot. Especially from fellow vets. I mean let’s be honest, we’re used to holding weapons of all sorts, all the time! And to be even more blunt, a lot of us are just very philosophically aligned with the second amendment. Long story long, we value our ability to carry, legally or not, but prefer to keep things as legal as possible. In the state of Minnesota, our laws allow for open carry but you must have a permit to do so. Great! But what about if you’re also a cannabis consumer, say for medical purposes, and want to go the legal route with that as well? Is it possible to do both?
Minnesota Statute 624.713 Subdivision 1. states “Ineligible persons. The following persons shall not be entitled to possess ammunition or a pistol or semiautomatic military-style assault weapon or, except for clause (1), any other firearm” and 10(iii) continues “{a person who}…. is an unlawful user of any controlled substance as defined in chapter 152. The use of medical cannabis flower or medical cannabinoid products by a patient enrolled in the registry program or the use of adult-use cannabis flower, adult-use cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, or hemp-derived consumer products by a person 21 years of age or older does not constitute the unlawful use of a controlled substance under this item;”
Okay that was a lot of legal jargon. But I put it there for reason 😉 Essentially what this all means in context is that neither medical cannabis nor adult use constitutes sufficient cause to disqualify an individual from possessing a firearm. In even more practical terms, there have yet to be any major cases brought forth or heard, at least in the media, on an individual losing or being denied their second amendment here in Minnesota, solely on the grounds of cannabis use. So again, long story long, in Minnesota you can have a medical cannabis card and a conceal carry permit. Where things get murky is crossing state lines.
Taken individually, there are some states that you can carry reciprocity over for a medical cannabis card or a firearm. In none are you able to do both since cannabis is still a federally illegal, schedule 3 substance. Interstate travel, consumption and ultimately use (of firearm) is a whole different can of worms. So what does this mean exactly?
Well you can have both here in Minnesota as a resident. If you’re traveling, you essentially have to choose one or the other. But that also varies state by state. I think we all yearn for a day where we can bring our guns and weed everywhere!
Sources:
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes 624.713 CERTAIN PERSONS NOT TO POSSESS FIREARMS.
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