As of June 2019, over 30 states have legalized some use of medical and/or recreational marijuana. Despite the many legal benefits of this trend, it has one legal downside: it can be a trap for uninformed immigrants. Until recently, USCIS harshly enforced penalties based on legalized marijuana only in certain regions. 

On April 19, 2019, USCIS published a Policy Alert to announce that it was amending its national Policy Manual to provide that possession of marijuana, or employment in the industry, can be a bar to establishing the good moral character required for naturalization, even if the conduct or employment is permitted under state law.

Download our Alert to review the amended Policy Manual and learn what you can do to help your clients and communities.