Reader: MMJ Patients Want Conceal-Carry Permits? Are They High?

A proposal to expand gun rights for medical marijuana users and people with low-level pot convictions misfired at the Colorado Legislature this week. Senate Bill 93, introduced by Senator Vicki Marble, would have made medical marijuana patients eligible for concealed-carry permits for handguns, which county sheriffs could issue at their discretion.

As it is, if applicants admit that they're on the state's medical marijuana registry, they can immediately be refused a permit. But even so, the bill did not make it out of committee...and that perturbed many readers.

Says Adam: 

Are you a drunk? Yes. Well, here is your gun; have fun possessing it legally.

Are you a medical patient prescribed medicine by your doctor? Is that medicine marijuana? Well, sorry, you can’t have a gun to defend yourself...you must be high or something.

Does this make sense to anyone?

Notes Alice: 

Medical marijuana is not prescribed. I agree that the form to buy a gun asks the wrong questions. It leads any marijuana user to lie to pass the background check to purchase the gun.

Adds Dan: 

Let's not forget the fact that people with Adderall and Vicoden prescriptions are allowed concealed-carry, and those are much more harmful.

Responds John:  

Okay so, according to our federal government, cannabis is the same as heroin, and while terrorists and clinically insane people can buy and carry guns, medical marijuana patients can’t.

And you wonder why people don’t respect the government?

Comments Aaron: 

How about no one on any mind-altering drug should have a gun in their possession? This isn't a f*cking contest.

Concludes Chris: 

None of these laws matter. As a human I have the inalienable right to use whatever means necessary to defend my life. No government laws or regulation can override my right to personal self-defense. Because I smoked pot, drank or used prescription drugs, I no longer have a right to self-defense? I don't think so. I bet the Supreme Court would say the same thing and will have to in the near future.

Keep reading for more on marijuana-related legislation this session.

"Bill Would Give Cops More Discretion in DUI Arrests"

"MMJ Bill for Autism Clears First Hurdle, Heads to Senate"

As Thomas Mitchell reported in "Push to Give Marijuana Patients Gun Rights Fails," the hypocrisy of the current concealed-carry rules were brought up at the Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs committee hearing on February 6.  "When you look at people on anti-depressants, they're not on a registry, and their firearms are not going to be confiscated merely because they're on anti-depressants or opioids," Marble told her fellow committee members.

"We are not trying to change federal law, and this does not change federal law," she added. "It just lets people keep the firearms they have, and not be penalized because they are a medical marijuana card holder."

Even so, the bill failed to make it out of committee; its co-sponsor said there's a good chance the issue will be revisited in the next session.

Do you think people on the MMJ registry should be able to get concealed-carry permits? Post a comment or email [email protected].