Local medical marijuana dispensaries react to gun sales ruling

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal ban on guns sales to medical marijuana card holders. The court ruled the ban did not violate the Second Amendment.

The decision was made based on the fact that marijuana still remains illegal under federal law. The drug is classified as a Schedule I drug a category that includes heroin and methamphetamine. According to the federal government, Schedule I drugs have “a high potential for abuse” and “no currently accepted medical use in treatment.”

Don Smith, a medical marijuana patient, said he disagreed with the ruling. He said he was a Second Amendment supporter and felt the decision was unconstitutional and hypocritical.

“I just think it’s nonsense that someone that gets drunk can own a gun and someone who uses medicinal marijuana cannot,” he said.

Smith was also concerned about patients who use medical marijuana as treatment losing a way to defend themselves.

“It would make you even more susceptible to crime and violence,” he said.

Joy Meredith, owner of Joy of Life Wellness Center, said she felt marijuana needed to be reclassified as a drug since she knows many patients who were using it for legitimate medical purposes.

“It just seems like your taking, really, some of the most peaceful that I know that are cannabis users and you’re putting them in a category with convicted violent felons,” she said.

There are plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.