US Supreme Court to consider law barring illegal drug users from owning guns

October 20, 2025

The US Supreme Court will review a case challenging the constitutionality of a federal law that prohibits habitual illegal drug users from possessing firearms. The Trump administration requested the review after a lower court ruled in favor of Ali Hemani, who argued that the charge against him for possessing a gun while being a regular marijuana user violated his Second Amendment rights. The government contends the law is necessary to prevent dangerous individuals from owning guns and is narrowly tailored since users can regain gun rights if they stop using illegal substances.

Who is affected

Ali Hemani, the defendant challenging the law
Habitual illegal drug users who wish to possess firearms
Hunter Biden, who was convicted under the same law
Law enforcement officials dealing with potentially armed drug users
Marijuana users in states where cannabis is legal but remains federally illegal

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is requesting the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court ruling
The Supreme Court is considering whether the law banning habitual drug users from possessing guns violates the constitution
The government is arguing that the statute is necessary to prevent dangerous individuals from owning guns
Mr. Hemani's legal team is arguing the law is too broad and could unfairly impact marijuana users

Why it matters

The case addresses the balance between Second Amendment rights and public safety concerns
It highlights the tension between state marijuana legalization and federal drug laws
The ruling could impact how broadly the government can restrict gun ownership
It demonstrates the conservative Supreme Court's approach to gun rights cases
The case involves a law that has been applied to high-profile individuals like Hunter Biden

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article beyond the Supreme Court's consideration of the case.

Read full article from source: BBC