Activists demand guns for pot smokers in Colorado

Coloradans got to vote directly on recreational marijuana legalization in 2012. Now they may get a chance to weigh in on whether lawful pot smokers should be allowed to own guns.

Under federal law, it's illegal for users of controlled substances to own guns, but since marijuana is now legal in Colorado, some activists there think gun ownership should be legal for smokers, too.

The campaign to put an equal gun rights measure on the ballot is led by two firearms instructors who argue that alcohol use — which does not affect gun ownership rules — is statistically more likely to incite violence and criminal behavior. Their proposed amendment focuses on allowing lawful marijuana users to obtain gun permits, but would not change legislation banning the use of firearms while under the influence.

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