11 November 2019

Singer Neil Young’s naturalization process hasn’t gone as planned. He has openly discussed his marijuana use in interviews and books for many years. In general, someone applying for US citizenship risks failing the government’s “good moral character” test if he illegally uses drugs. In April, US Citizenship and Immigration Services clarified its policies, saying that applicants “involved in certain marijuana related activities” — even in states where the drug is legal, may lack good moral character since marijuana use remains, in most instances, illegal under federal law.

In articles in The New York Times and Rolling Stones Anastasia Tonello explains “drug use doesn’t automatically disqualify naturalization applicants”. “Some people can be rehabilitated, and it doesn’t mean if you’ve done drugs or you’ve ever been arrested for something minor that you can never become a US citizen, but it certainly would complicate the process.”

Read the full article in The New York Times here.
Read the full article in the Rolling Stones here.