Green Card Holder Denied Citizenship for Working in Cannabis Industry

As reported in Politico on December 23, 2023, due to a conflict between federal immigration laws and an increasing number of state laws legalizing cannabis, individuals working in the cannabis industry in states where cannabis is legal can be denied US citizenship. This is what happened to Ms. Maria Reimers when she and her US citizen husband opened a small retail shop in Washington state, where cannabis is legal. The shop sells state-regulated cannabis. After obtaining her green card through marriage, Ms. Reimers applied for US citizenship, but was denied for a lack of good moral character due to her employment history and participation in what USCIS considered “illicit drug trafficking.” This disconnect between federal immigration policy and state laws can cause a great deal of confusion and has been creating serious immigration problems for individuals involved in the cannabis industry.