There are few things more frustrating than discovering that two laws can exist at the same time, point in completely different directions, and somehow both be important to you.

New York says cannabis is legal for adults 21 and older.

The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.

And then there is the complicated world of federal controlled-substance and firearms law sitting right in the middle of those two rights.

But in June 2026, something happened that changed the conversation.

The United States Supreme Court decided United States v. Hemani, a case involving a Texas man who regularly used marijuana and possessed a firearm in his home. The federal government prosecuted him under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3), the federal law that generally prohibits an “unlawful user of or addicted to” a controlled substance from possessing a firearm.

The Supreme Court unanimously rejected the government’s attempt to prosecute Hemani based solely on his marijuana use, holding that the government’s application of the law to him violated the Second Amendment. The Court emphasized that the government had not shown that Hemani’s marijuana use made him dangerous or otherwise supplied the individualized justification necessary to disarm him.

That is a BIG deal.

But here’s where New York gets complicated.

Because Hemani did not simply declare that every marijuana consumer in America now automatically qualifies for every firearm license in every state.

And that distinction matters.

THE TEXAS CASE THAT CHANGED THE CONVERSATION

Ali Hemani lived in Texas and admitted that he used marijuana about every other day. Federal agents found marijuana and a firearm at his home during an investigation unrelated to the firearm charge.

The government later prosecuted him under §922(g)(3), relying on his marijuana use.

The Supreme Court’s question wasn’t whether marijuana was legal under Texas law.

It was whether the federal government could take away Hemani’s Second Amendment right and prosecute him merely because he regularly used marijuana, without additional evidence showing that his drug use made him dangerous.

The Court said no.

The decision was an as-applied decision, meaning the Court decided the constitutionality of the federal prohibition as it was applied to Hemani’s circumstances. The Court did not declare every possible application of §922(g)(3) unconstitutional. It specifically left questions involving addiction, present intoxication, other controlled substances, and individualized evidence of dangerousness unresolved.

That is why headlines saying “marijuana users can now own guns” can be misleading if they leave out the details.

The decision opened a door.

It did not erase every law standing behind that door.

SO WHAT ABOUT NEW YORK?

New York has its own pistol-licensing system.

Under New York Penal Law §400.00, an applicant cannot be issued or renewed a pistol license if the applicant is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” as defined by federal law. The statute also requires the licensing officer to investigate the application and make findings concerning the applicant’s eligibility and character.

And the current New York State pistol/revolver license application asks applicants directly:

“Are you an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance as defined in section 21 U.S.C. 802?”

So New York has not simply removed marijuana from the firearm-license equation because cannabis became legal under New York law.

New York legalized adult-use cannabis for adults 21 and older, including possession and consumption within the limits established by state law.

But federal law has historically treated marijuana as a controlled substance.

That creates the collision:

New York cannabis law says lawful.

New York pistol law still uses federal controlled-substance terminology.

The Supreme Court has now said that the federal government cannot automatically disarm a marijuana user based solely on marijuana use in circumstances like Hemani’s.

Welcome to the legal gray area.

WHAT IF YOU USED TO SMOKE BUT DON’T ANYMORE?

This is one of the most important distinctions.

There is a huge difference between saying:

“I used marijuana years ago.”

and:

“I currently use marijuana.”

New York’s statutory disqualification is written in the present tense. It says an applicant must not “be” an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

That means past marijuana use is not automatically the same thing as current unlawful use.

In fact, the current New York application asks the applicant whether they are an unlawful user or addicted—not simply whether they have ever consumed cannabis.

That doesn’t mean an applicant should hide past drug use.

Quite the opposite.

New York’s application separately asks applicants about arrests, charges and indictments, including matters that may be relevant to their background investigation.

And New York courts have repeatedly emphasized that applicants must provide truthful information and that licensing officers have substantial authority to investigate an applicant’s eligibility based on character.

So if somebody smoked marijuana years ago, stopped, and otherwise meets the requirements, past use by itself is not the same statutory condition as being a current unlawful user.

That is an important distinction.

WHAT IF YOU CURRENTLY USE CANNABIS IN NEW YORK?

This is where the answer becomes much less comfortable.

Under the literal language of New York Penal Law §400.00, a person who is an “unlawful user” of a controlled substance is disqualified from receiving a pistol license.

Because New York’s statute incorporates the federal controlled-substance definition, marijuana’s continued federal status matters.

That is why New York’s Office of Cannabis Management warned in 2026 that cannabis users should understand the continuing tension between state cannabis legalization and federal firearm rules. Its published guidance specifically described cannabis—including medical cannabis—as remaining federally illegal and warned that disclosure on firearm applications could have licensing consequences.

But then came Hemani.

And Hemani creates a serious constitutional question about whether New York—or anyone acting under federal law—can simply say:

“You use marijuana, therefore you are automatically too dangerous to possess a firearm.”

The Supreme Court rejected that kind of automatic conclusion in Hemani’s case.

The Court found that marijuana use alone, without additional evidence establishing the kind of danger that historically justified disarmament, was insufficient to support the federal prosecution against Hemani.

But—and this is the part people need to understand—the Supreme Court did not issue a ruling specifically ordering New York licensing officers to issue pistol permits to current marijuana users.

That question remains open.

NEW YORK VS. TEXAS: WHAT’S ACTUALLY DIFFERENT?

The biggest misconception is that Texas somehow received a special marijuana-and-guns exemption.

It didn’t.

Hemani happened to be a Texas resident.

The Supreme Court was deciding a federal constitutional question, not creating a Texas-only marijuana firearm law.

The federal constitutional holding therefore matters in New York too.

But New York has its own pistol-license statute and licensing process.

That’s the critical difference.

Think of it as two separate layers:

FEDERAL LAYER:
The Supreme Court has limited the government’s ability to use federal §922(g)(3) to automatically disarm a marijuana user solely because that person uses marijuana, at least under circumstances like Hemani’s.

NEW YORK LAYER:
New York Penal Law §400.00 still contains an eligibility requirement excluding an applicant who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

Those two things now have to be reconciled.

And that reconciliation has not yet been definitively answered by the Supreme Court or, as of this writing, by a controlling New York appellate decision specifically holding that ordinary current marijuana use alone can no longer disqualify a New York pistol-permit applicant.

That is the legal question sitting on the table.

marijuana in the past but stopped
Past use alone is not the same as being a current unlawful user. It is not an automatic marijuana-based disqualification under the wording of §400.00.
You currently use cannabis in New York
New York’s statute still contains a controlled-substance disqualification, so current cannabis use can create a pistol-license eligibility problem.

You currently use cannabis and possess a firearm
Hemani significantly changed the federal constitutional analysis, but it did not automatically invalidate every state firearm restriction involving marijuana.
You are addicted to a controlled substance
Hemani expressly did not resolve the constitutionality of every application involving addiction.
There is additional evidence of dangerous conduct connected to drug use
That can present a materially different constitutional and licensing question from marijuana use alone.

You were denied a NY permit because of cannabis
The precise reason for the denial matters. A denial can potentially be challenged through the appropriate legal process, including judicial review under Article 78, depending on the circumstances.

The table is the short version.

The real story is much bigger.

IS THE BATTLE OVER?

No one should honestly tell New York cannabis consumers that the Supreme Court’s decision automatically solved the problem.

It didn’t.

But nobody should honestly tell them that the issue is hopeless, either.

The legal landscape has changed dramatically.

Before Hemani, the federal government had a much stronger argument that regular marijuana use alone could trigger §922(g)(3).

After Hemani, the Supreme Court has said that the government cannot simply assume that a marijuana user is dangerous and strip that person of firearm rights without the constitutionally required justification.

That creates an important foundation for future litigation, legislation and regulatory changes.

And that’s where the next chapter begins.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO NOW?

There are several lawful ways citizens can participate in the ongoing legal and policy debate.

First: know exactly what happened if a permit is denied.

A denial based on current cannabis use is different from a denial based on an undisclosed arrest, criminal conviction, false statement, or an independent finding concerning character or eligibility.

New York courts have recently emphasized that applicants must be truthful and that licensing officers have significant discretion in evaluating applications.

Second: talk to an attorney who understands both firearms law and cannabis law.

This is not an area where internet comments should replace individualized legal advice. The interaction between federal constitutional law, New York Penal Law §400.00 and local licensing procedures is complicated.

Third: watch the courts.

If a New York applicant is denied specifically because of marijuana use, that individual may have an opportunity to challenge the determination through the appropriate judicial process. New York law provides for judicial review of adverse licensing determinations, and recent cases demonstrate that firearm-license disputes continue to reach New York.

Fourth: watch Albany.

New York’s firearm laws are made and changed through legislation. Citizens can contact their state legislators, submit testimony, participate in public legislative processes and support or oppose proposed legislation according to their own views.

There are also national organizations on different sides of the Second Amendment and cannabis-law debate that are participating in litigation and public-policy discussions surrounding Hemani. The Supreme Court case itself attracted participation from organizations including the ACLU, NORML, the NRA and others.

And perhaps most importantly:

Pay attention to what the courts actually say—not just what social media says they said.

THE QUESTION NEW YORK HAS TO ANSWER

There is something almost surreal about the current situation.

New York can tell an adult:

“You are legally permitted under New York law to possess and consume cannabis.”

But its pistol-licensing statute still asks whether that same person is an unlawful user of a federally controlled substance.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has now said the federal government cannot automatically treat a marijuana user as someone who can be stripped of Second Amendment rights merely because that person uses marijuana.

That collision was inevitable.

Hemani didn’t finish the conversation.

It made the conversation impossible to ignore.

And now the question is no longer simply:

“Can a person smoke marijuana and own a gun?”

The more precise question is:

“Can the government constitutionally treat marijuana use, by itself, as sufficient evidence that an otherwise eligible person should lose the right to possess a firearm?”

The Supreme Court has already answered that question in one important federal context:

Not automatically.

But New York’s licensing system still contains language that creates a separate legal problem.

So for New Yorkers, the story isn’t finished.

The next chapter could come from the Legislature.

It could come from New York courts.

It could come from another federal case.

It could come from new regulations or guidance.

Or it could come from some combination of all of them.

For now, the most responsible conclusion is also the most intriguing one:

The Hemani decision changed the battlefield, but it did not declare the New York battle over.

For cannabis consumers who also care about their constitutional rights, that distinction matters.

Because when laws collide, knowing exactly where the law stands is the first step toward knowing where the law may go next.

• Seymour Buds

When a state turns a cannabis crackdown into a criminal-justice issue, silence isn’t an option.

There are moments in the cannabis movement when you read the news and think, “Wait…did we seriously just go backward?”

This is one of those moments.

As of July 31, 2026, Texas began enforcing a sweeping crackdown on numerous hemp-derived THC compounds, including delta-8 and delta-10. Compounds that had been legally sold in Texas—including in products such as gummies and vapes—can now fall under Texas controlled-substance laws, with possession potentially carrying felony consequences depending on exactly what the substance is and how much is involved.

And before somebody starts throwing tomatoes at me for saying this: there is an important legal distinction here.

Texas did not suddenly rewrite its marijuana-possession statute to make one gram of ordinary marijuana a felony. Under the current statute, possession of two ounces or less of marijuana remains a Class B misdemeanor.

But don’t let that technical distinction distract from the bigger picture.

Texas has just taken a giant step backward on cannabis freedom.

And that’s what this article is about.

WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE

For decades, cannabis consumers were treated like criminals.

People lost jobs. People lost opportunities. People lost years of their lives. Families were torn apart. And people went to prison over a plant that millions of Americans now openly consume.

Then something started changing.

States began recognizing that prohibition wasn’t working.

Cannabis legalization and reform movements began spreading across the country. Medical programs appeared. Adult-use markets followed. Communities began expunging old convictions. And in some places, people who had been criminalized for participating in the cannabis industry were finally being given opportunities to participate in the legal industry.

That was more than a business transition.

It was an acknowledgment that we got something wrong.

America had spent decades telling people cannabis was so dangerous that possessing it could destroy their lives.

Then America slowly began admitting:

Maybe the people weren’t the problem.

Maybe the policy was.

Texas appears determined to take a different road.

THE GOVERNOR’S ROLE MATTERS

If we’re going to criticize government policy, we need to identify who actually has responsibility for it.

Governor Greg Abbott is central to the story.

In September 2025, Abbott issued Executive Order GA-56 directing Texas agencies to tighten regulation of hemp-derived products. The order called for changes involving age restrictions, testing, labeling, fees and enforcement.

Abbott had previously vetoed Senate Bill 3, a sweeping hemp prohibition passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025. In his veto statement, he argued that an outright prohibition could create serious constitutional and federal-law problems and called instead for a regulatory framework.

But Texas didn’t stop there.

In 2026, Texas restored controlled-substance treatment for several hemp-derived THC compounds. The result is a situation where products that were previously available in ordinary Texas retail stores can suddenly carry dramatically different legal consequences.

That is an enormous change.

And ordinary people need to understand it.

IMAGINE THIS

Imagine you’re visiting a friend in Texas.

You’ve got a legal-looking package of THC gummies sitting in your vehicle.

Maybe you bought them legally before the rules changed.

Maybe you didn’t even realize the law had changed.

Maybe you thought, “It’s hemp. It’s sold in stores. What’s the problem?”

Now imagine that same product is suddenly treated as a controlled substance.

That isn’t some abstract political debate.

That’s a real person’s freedom.

That’s someone’s criminal record.

That’s someone’s job.

That’s someone’s family.

And potentially, depending on the substance and circumstances, that’s someone’s liberty.

Ask yourself a simple question:

Does possessing a tiny amount of a cannabis-derived product automatically make somebody a bad person?

Of course it doesn’t.

Yet criminal law has a way of turning complicated human beings into very simple labels:

CONVICTED.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN WEED

That’s the part I really want people to understand.

This isn’t only about marijuana.

It’s about what happens when government decides that adults shouldn’t be trusted to make decisions about their own bodies.

You don’t have to smoke cannabis.

You don’t even have to like cannabis.

Hell, you can think cannabis smells like a skunk got trapped inside a gym bag.

That’s fine.

But you should still care about the principle.

Because once government gets comfortable deciding what adults are allowed to possess, consume or put into their own bodies, the argument becomes bigger than cannabis.

The cannabis movement has always been about more than getting high.

It has been about freedom, fairness, personal responsibility and ending disproportionate criminal punishment.

And that’s why this moment matters.

TEXAS, WE KNOW YOU SMOKE

Here’s the part that makes me laugh.

Texas has millions of people.

And somehow we’re supposed to believe cannabis consumers simply disappeared because somebody changed the rules?

Come on.

That’s like putting a “NO FISHING” sign next to a lake and expecting every fisherman in America to suddenly discover knitting.

People don’t stop consuming something simply because politicians decide they don’t like it.

Prohibition has taught us that lesson repeatedly.

The question is whether government chooses to regulate reality—or pretend reality doesn’t exist.

SO WHAT CAN WE ACTUALLY DO?

Here’s my answer:

Use your wallet.

If you disagree with what Texas is doing, you don’t have to sit around complaining about it while continuing to financially support everything coming out of the state.

You can make different choices.

If you see a product labeled “Made in Texas,” you have the right to decide whether you want to buy it.

If you don’t agree with Texas’ cannabis policies, consider supporting businesses and organizations in states that reflect the policies you believe in.

If you’re donating to organizations, research where that money goes.

If you’re buying products, research where they’re manufactured.

And if you disagree with Texas’ policies, say so.

Facebook.

Instagram.

TikTok.

YouTube.

Letters.

Emails.

Phone calls.

Public comments.

Every peaceful, lawful avenue available.

Don’t threaten anybody.

Don’t harass anybody.

Don’t destroy anything.

Just make your voice impossible to ignore.

Because democracy is not supposed to be quiet.

WRITE THE GOVERNOR

If you want to take your protest directly to the person whose administration initiated the regulatory crackdown, write Governor Greg Abbott.

The Governor’s official office specifically invites citizens to submit opinions and concerns.

Governor Greg Abbott
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428

You can also use the Governor’s official online opinion form through the Office of the Governor.

Tell him what you think.

Be respectful.

Be factual.

Be passionate.

And most importantly, be heard.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO BACKWARD

I’ve spent years watching the cannabis movement fight for progress.

I’ve watched people who were once treated like criminals become legitimate business owners.

I’ve watched communities build cannabis industries.

I’ve watched states recognize that locking people up for possessing a plant was not exactly the greatest public-policy achievement in American history.

And I’ve watched people who were once punished for cannabis finally receive opportunities in the legal marketplace.

To me, that was America acknowledging something important:

We were wrong.

So when I see laws and policies moving in the opposite direction, it pisses me off.

Not because I think everybody should smoke weed.

Because I think adults should have freedom.

Texas can call this public safety.

Texas can call this regulation.

Texas can call this protecting children.

Those are legitimate issues worth discussing.

But when the solution creates the possibility that ordinary adults can suddenly face life-altering criminal consequences over products they previously could legally purchase, we have every right to ask whether the punishment fits the conduct.

THIS ISN’T THE END OF THE MOVEMENT

And here’s where I want to be clear:

I don’t believe the cannabis movement is going backward.

I believe Texas is choosing to go backward.

There’s a difference.

The national cannabis movement is bigger than one governor.

Bigger than one legislature.

Bigger than one state.

And certainly bigger than one political party.

Cannabis consumers exist everywhere.

Republicans smoke it.

Democrats smoke it.

Independents smoke it.

Rich people smoke it.

Poor people smoke it.

Blue-collar workers smoke it.

Professionals smoke it.

Veterans smoke it.

Artists smoke it.

Entrepreneurs smoke it.

And yes…

Texans smoke it.

That’s precisely why this fight isn’t over.

THE MESSAGE FROM OG STRAIN

I’m not calling for violence.

I’m not calling for harassment.

I’m not calling for anybody to break the law.

I’m calling for something far more powerful:

Participation.

Pay attention.

Know what your state is doing.

Know what politicians are doing.

Know what you’re buying.

Know where your money is going.

Write letters.

Make phone calls.

Speak publicly.

Vote.

Organize.

Support cannabis businesses that are fighting for sensible policy.

And when politicians forget that government is supposed to work for the people?

Remind them.

Because freedom doesn’t protect itself.

People protect it.

And if we learned anything from the last several decades of cannabis prohibition, it’s this:

Every time somebody tells us the fight is over, that’s usually when we need to start fighting harder.

Texas may have changed the rules.

But it hasn’t changed the people.

It hasn’t changed the millions of Americans who believe cannabis should be treated responsibly rather than criminalized.

And it certainly hasn’t changed me.

I’m OG Strain.

I’ve been in this movement.

I’ve watched it grow.

I’ve watched people sacrifice for it.

I’ve watched people fight for it.

And I’m not interested in watching us quietly surrender everything we’ve accomplished.

We cannot go backward.

Not for cannabis.

Not for freedom.

Not for the people who spent decades paying the price for prohibition.

And not for the next generation that deserves better than inheriting the same failed war our generation spent so long trying to end.

Texas, we’re watching.

America, we need to pay attention.

And cannabis community—don’t you dare fall asleep now.

Because this fight is bigger than weed.

It’s about freedom.

“The best flower in the world can’t sell itself if nobody knows it exists.”

Let me ask you something…

Do you own a cannabis business?

Do you believe in your products?

Do you know your flower, rosin, edibles, concentrates, or genetics can stand toe-to-toe with just about anybody else in New York?

Then here’s the million-dollar question…

Who’s making sure people know about you?

Because here’s the truth: you can grow the loudest flower in the state, but if your marketing is whispering, your business will stay quiet.

The cannabis industry is changing fast. New brands are popping up every day. New dispensaries are opening. New growers are entering the game. Customers have more choices than ever before.

That’s exciting…

But it’s also a problem.

Because if people don’t know your name, they can’t become your customers.

⸻

You Focus on Growing Great Cannabis. I’ll Focus on Growing Your Audience.

Your job is to bring quality to the table.

My job is making sure people know it’s sitting on the table.

That’s what I love doing.

I’m not some marketing company that got handed a cannabis account and had to Google what a terpene is.

I live this culture.

I’m at the events.

I’m talking with growers.

I’m interviewing hash makers.

I’m filming dispensaries.

I’m reviewing products.

I’m writing articles.

I’m networking with creators.

I’m building relationships every single week.

When I promote a company, it isn’t because someone handed me a script.

It’s because I actually know the people.

I’ve tried the products.

I’ve heard the story behind the brand.

That authenticity matters.

Cannabis consumers can spot fake promotion quicker than someone who says they “only take one little dab.”

We all know how that story ends.

⸻

More Than Promotion… It’s Partnership.

When I work with a company, I don’t disappear after posting one video.

I’m thinking about your brand constantly.

What article should we write next?

What video would customers enjoy?

What event should we cover?

Who should we collaborate with?

What story hasn’t been told yet?

That’s the difference.

This isn’t simply advertising.

It’s building a brand.

Through The Plug’s Pages Magazine, my YouTube channel Strain’s Strain Reviews (Talk Cannabis), social media, and the relationships I’ve built throughout New York’s cannabis community, I’ve been fortunate enough to help shine a spotlight on some incredible people and businesses.

Every interview opens another door.

Every article starts another conversation.

Every event introduces another audience.

Every collaboration builds another relationship.

That’s how communities grow.

⸻

Watching Good Companies Get the Recognition They Deserve

One of my favorite parts of doing this is watching hardworking people finally get noticed.

I’ve watched businesses gain more visibility after being featured through articles, videos, and ongoing promotion.

I’ve watched customers discover companies they had never heard of before.

I’ve watched craft growers sell through fresh harvests faster because people finally knew what they had available.

Does every bit of that success happen because of me?

Of course not.

Great companies earn loyal customers by creating great products.

But I absolutely believe consistent exposure helps great companies get discovered much faster.

Sometimes all a company needs is somebody willing to tell their story.

⸻

A Humbling Compliment I’ll Never Forget

Recently, Seymour Buds wrote an article describing me as one of the faces of New York’s cannabis community and even compared my passion for the industry to Dope As Yola’s influence in California.

Honestly…

That meant a lot.

Dope As Yola has built something incredible.

I don’t put myself on that level.

Not yet.

But I do understand passion.

I understand commitment.

I understand showing up.

When I say I’m going to support this industry…

I mean it.

Helping New York cannabis grow isn’t just something I do.

It’s something I genuinely love.

⸻

This Isn’t About Getting Rich

If making money was the only goal…

I’d probably choose a career where I didn’t spend half my weekends chasing cannabis events with a camera in one hand and wondering where I left my lighter with the other.

This is bigger than that.

I enjoy helping good companies succeed.

I enjoy seeing people get recognized for the hard work they’ve poured into their businesses.

Do I have bills to pay?

Absolutely.

That’s reality.

I can’t spend every waking hour promoting companies completely free forever.

But I also don’t believe cannabis businesses should have to spend outrageous amounts of money just to get quality promotion.

Some marketing agencies charge thousands of dollars every month.

What I’m trying to build is different.

Real relationships.

Real storytelling.

Real community.

⸻

A Promotional Package That Actually Makes Sense

Whether you’re a small grower…

A processor…

A dispensary…

An edible company…

A solventless hash producer…

Or a brand that’s getting ready to become New York’s next household name…

There’s room to work together.

Maybe your company needs magazine coverage.

Maybe you need YouTube videos.

Maybe you need interviews.

Maybe you need social media content.

Maybe you want all of it.

The goal isn’t selling you the biggest package.

The goal is building the right one.

One that fits your business.

One that fits your budget.

One that helps people remember your name.

⸻

Don’t Wait Until You Think You’re Ready

One mistake I see all the time is companies waiting until someday to begin promoting themselves.

“Someday” is expensive.

Start building your brand today.

Even if you’re not ready to purchase a promotional package, let’s have a conversation.

Let’s talk about your goals.

Let’s talk about your vision.

Let’s figure out what makes your company different.

That conversation costs absolutely nothing.

And it could be the first step toward building something much bigger.

⸻

Final Hit

New York’s cannabis industry is still in its early chapters.

The brands people talk about five years from now are being built today.

Not just by growing incredible cannabis…

But by building relationships.

By staying visible.

By telling their story.

If you’re serious about your business…

If you’re proud of what you’ve created…

If you’re ready for more people to know who you are…

My inbox is open.

Let’s talk.

Let’s build something together.

Because the next cannabis company everyone is talking about…

…could very well be yours.