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SB 994

Firearms - Right to Purchase, Own, Possess, and Carry

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Johnny Salling

Prohibits denying Maryland firearm rights (purchase,ownership,possession,carry) solely because of medical cannabis use; leaves other disqualifications intact; federal law unchanged.

First Reading Senate Rules
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Bill Summary · SB 994

SB 994 — Firearms: Right to Purchase, Own, Possess, and Carry

Status: Introduced (Maryland Senate) — First reading Feb 1, 2025 (assigned to Rules)
Primary sponsor: Senator Salling
Subject: Firearms; medical cannabis

Main purpose

To prohibit the State from denying a person's right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm solely because the person is authorized to use medical cannabis under Maryland law.

Key provisions

  • Adds Article — Public Safety, Subtitle 9 (Miscellaneous), Section 5‑901 to the Annotated Code of Maryland.
  • Section 5‑901 (new): “A person may not be denied the right to purchase, own, possess, or carry a firearm under this title solely on the basis that the person is authorized to use medical cannabis under Title 36, Subtitle 3 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article.”
  • Does not amend other firearm‑related disqualifications (e.g., convictions, adjudications, mental health commitments, protective orders) — those remain in force.
  • Effective date (per version text): October 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: qualifying medical cannabis patients and their caregivers who are authorized under Maryland’s medical cannabis program.
  • Secondary: State agencies that administer firearm licensing/permit processes and record-keeping; law enforcement and courts in applying state firearm possession rules.

Fiscal impact

  • Maryland Department of Legislative Services fiscal analysis: one‑time general fund expenditures of approximately $100,000 in FY 2026 for computer programming changes. No projected ongoing fiscal or revenue impact; no local government impact reported.

Legal and practical considerations

  • The bill narrows one basis for denial under State law but does not alter other state disqualifiers for firearm rights.
  • Medical cannabis remains illegal under federal law. Federal prohibitions on firearm possession by unlawful users of controlled substances could continue to expose medical cannabis users to potential federal enforcement or disqualification for federally regulated permits; the bill does not address federal law or guarantee immunity from federal consequences.
  • Implementation may require updates to agency systems and forms (hence estimated IT/programming costs).

Procedural notes

  • Introduced and read first time Feb 1, 2025; referred to Rules (per bill text). (Companion/related bill references include HB 336 in cross-files noted in legislative materials.)
  • Version text indicates an October 1, 2025 effective date.

Summary: SB 994 creates a state‑level protection preventing denial of state firearm rights solely because an individual is authorized to use medical cannabis, while leaving intact other state disqualifications and without changing federal law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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