{"id":3432,"date":"2020-01-03T06:11:48","date_gmt":"2020-01-03T14:11:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/?p=3432"},"modified":"2020-01-03T07:59:49","modified_gmt":"2020-01-03T15:59:49","slug":"neil-young-becoming-american-citizen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/neil-young-becoming-american-citizen\/","title":{"rendered":"Neil Young\u2019s Honesty About Cannabis Use Could Keep Him From Becoming An American Citizen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Famed rocker Neil Young, a Canada native who has had a home in the United States for decades, has made it clear he wants to become an American citizen and vote in the 2020 election. He\u2019s also made it clear he\u2019s smoked quite a bit of marijuana through the years.<\/p>\n

Apparently, those two things don\u2019t go well together when trying to become a U.S. citizen. According to a new clause in federal law, marijuana use can call into question a person\u2019s \u201cgood moral character.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Neil Young, federal officials delayed his application for U.S. citizenship because of this clause. Added in April 2019, it says applicants \u201cinvolved in certain marijuana-related activities\u201d may lack good moral character.<\/p>\n

Of course, cannabis is legal<\/a> in more than half of U.S. states for either medical or recreational use. In California, where Young has a home, it\u2019s legal for both.<\/p>\n

Tripped Up By His Own Honesty<\/h2>\n

On his website, Young wrote that<\/a> he had been tripped up because of his honesty about marijuana use.<\/p>\n

He wrote: \u201cI want to be a dual citizen and vote. When I applied recently for American citizenship, I passed the test. It was a conversation where I was asked many questions. I answered them truthfully and passed. Recently, however, I have been told that I must do another test, due to my use of marijuana and how some people who smoke it have exhibited a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

In order to successfully complete the naturalization process, a person must submit a detailed application and go through an interview. They also must take a civics test. Part of the evaluation for citizenship involves consideration of the \u201cgood moral character\u201d provision.<\/p>\n

The provision can be applied to someone who committed a crime, according to the New York Times<\/a>. Depending on the severity of the crime, it could disqualify the application temporarily or permanently.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until this year that language was put into the \u201cgood moral character\u201d provision that specifically referenced marijuana use, according to the Times.<\/p>\n

Young\u2019s Next Steps<\/h2>\n

According to Young\u2019s post, he is taking a second test. The Times reported that it is unusual because most people are simply rejected and must apply again.<\/p>\n

Young told the Los Angeles Times<\/a> he had hoped to become a citizen by his 74th birthday on Nov 12. Young said \u201cI\u2019m still a Canadian; there\u2019s nothing that can take that away from me. But I live down here; I pay taxes down here; my beautiful family is all down here \u2014 they\u2019re all Americans, so I want to register my opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Young married actress Daryl Hannah in 2018. They live in Santa Monica. In the interview with the Los Angeles Times, Young said he used cannabis for years but stopped in 2011. However, he also said he has since started using it again.<\/p>\n

Anastasia Tonello, past president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told the New York Times that if \u201cyou\u2019ve done drugs\u201d you may still get approved for citizenship but that it \u201ccertainly would complicate the process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neil Young now finds himself in a strange situation. He lives in a state<\/a> where the very thing that could keep him from being a U.S. citizen is legal for everyone around him to do every day.<\/p>\n

On his website, Young remained optimistic, writing, \u201cI sincerely hope I have exhibited good moral character and will be able to vote my conscience on Donald J. Trump and his fellow American candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Neil Young, a well-known musician who resides in California, has applied for American citizenship. Here’s why his application is at risk of being denied!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[835,141,714,834],"yoast_head":"\nNeil Young\u2019s Cannabis Use Could Keep Him From Becoming A Citizen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Neil Young, a well-known musician who resides in California, has applied for American citizenship. 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