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Leader of Kentucky pro-cannabis group says federal crackdown on gun owners with medical marijuana cards highly unlikely

Matthew Bratcher is the executive director of Kentucky NORML, which was formed in 2017
KY NORML
Matthew Bratcher is the executive director of Kentucky NORML, which was formed in 2017.

Soon, qualifying Kentuckians will be able to purchase medical cannabis legally in the commonwealth. Kevin Bratcher, the executive director of the pro-cannabis nonprofit Kentucky NORML, said those who own guns will be in violation of federal pot laws.

“What the federal government sees it as, if you are a marijuana user, you are breaking federal law. If you are a law breaker those rights of the Second Amendment don't go to you.”

Bratcher said that argument has been shut down in court cases, including two in Texas that found banning guns for medical cannabis patients is unconstitutional.

“I feel like, if we were going to see, you know, if ATF start arresting medical cannabis patients for being gun owners, we would have seen it across the country already by now.”

Bratcher said he knows of no one purchasing legal cannabis in the first 37 states with programs having to forfeit their guns. For those worried about that possibility, he suggests transferring ownership of them to a family member until Congress or the Supreme Court clarifies matters.

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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