Last week authorities at immigration said that any person who is involved with marijuana, whether it is legal or not in the state, could be denied citizenship.
Marijuana is still illegal under federal law which has prompted the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services states to remind people who use marijuana or are involved with it in any way fail to have “good moral character,” a prerequisite for people who have legal permanent residence to gain American citizenship.
“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is required to adjudicate cases based on federal law,” spokeswoman Jessica Collins said. “Individuals who commit federal controlled substance violations face potential immigration consequences under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which applies to all foreign nationals regardless of the state or jurisdiction in which they reside.”
Julia Gelatt, a senior policy analyst for the Migration Policy Institute said, “Whether or not it has a real impact is whether adjudicators decide to ask about it.”
