in Virginia pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to using marijuana while possessing a firearm, which is illegal under U.S. law.
“Miss Taylor’s role in this tragedy is a complete accident and a complete mistake. She takes full responsibility for her son’s actions and will feel guilt for the rest of her life,” he said. Marijuana is still a controlled substance under U.S. law and is strictly regulated by federal authorities. Court documents do not detail exactly how federal investigators built their case against Taylor, who came under intense scrutiny after the shooting.
In 2018, a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that authorities prosecute “a small percentage of individuals” who falsify information on a form and are denied a purchase. Earlier this year, federal judges in Oklahoma and Texas ruled the ban on cannabis consumers possessing and buying guns is unconstitutional. While those decisions are only binding in parts of those two states, some Republicans in Congress have introduced legislation to do away with the prohibition.