Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Last week brought headline-grabbing news that had a lot of people celebrating. And a lot of gun owners scratching their heads.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order reclassifying cannabis from a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule III, a move that opens the door to expanded medical research and signals a shift in federal drug policy.
But if you’re a gun owner, or hoping to become one, William Kirk, president of Washington Gun Law, says the short answer is simple:
This changes nothing for firearms possession.
In a recent breakdown, Kirk explains that while cannabis has been reclassified, it has not been legalized at the federal level. That distinction matters because under federal law, marijuana remains an unlawful controlled substance, regardless of what individual states allow.
The problem lives squarely inside 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), which prohibits anyone who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” from possessing firearms. And here’s the key point: that statute applies to all controlled substances, whether they’re Schedule I, II, III, IV, or V.
So moving cannabis to Schedule III doesn’t remove it from the list. It just moves it around on the list.
Kirk also points to the real-world choke point for gun buyers: ATF Form 4473.
Question 21F asks whether the buyer is an unlawful user of marijuana or any other controlled substance. Right below it is a warning that makes the federal position crystal clear: marijuana remains illegal under federal law, even if your state says otherwise.
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That warning is still accurate after reclassification. And that means the form isn’t changing.
Gun owners are left with what Kirk calls a Hobson’s choice. Answer “yes,” and the firearm transfer stops immediately. Answer “no” while knowingly using cannabis, and you’ve potentially committed a federal felony by lying on the form.
Reclassification does bring benefits. Mainly, allowing more federally funded research into potential medical uses of cannabis. But it does not legalize recreational use, does not legalize medical use federally, and does not lift the firearm prohibition.
According to Kirk, there are only two ways this situation changes:
Congress amends the Gun Control Act of 1968, or the ATF radically reinterprets § 922(g)(3).
Both outcomes, he says, are highly unlikely in the near term.
Bottom line: if you’re a lawful gun owner who doesn’t use cannabis, this executive order means nothing to you. And if you do use cannabis, the legal risk hasn’t changed one bit.
As Kirk puts it, education (not celebration) is the real takeaway here. Knowing the law remains part of being a responsible gun owner.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
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well since there are lots of people here who assert pot isn’t addictive and you won’t die from a serious medical condition then it should be easy to just stop to stay legal!