Smoking Lawful Weed May Cost You Citizenship
According to the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), an immigrant who is seeking naturalization may lack the good moral character required to become a U.S. Citizen if they partake in the lawful purchase, possession, or consumption of marijuana. As many states are updating their laws by legalizing the medical and recreational use of marijuana, the USCIS is also updating its internal policies related to the adjudication of naturalization applications of lawful permanent residents who partake in the marijuana industry. This includes, that even without an arrest, conviction, or charge, the lawful “possession, manufacture or production, or distribution, or dispensing of marijuana” is enough to bar you from naturalization. To learn more, read my blog post “Are You an Immigrant Who (Legally) Smokes Weed? If So, You May Never Become a U.S. Citizen” on our immigration law blog, Immigration Matters.