Revising Definition of “Unlawful User of or Addicted to Controlled Substance”
Built by the Tribune's code from the Federal Register. No AI wrote this page. Published in the Federal Register Jan. 22, 2026. Document 2026-01141. Updated Nov. 15, 2026.
- What it does
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is amending Department of Justice ("Department") regulations to update the definition of "unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance," a category of persons who may not possess firearms under federal law. This definition was established in 1996 to facilitate operation of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Since then, court decisions and ATF internal guidance have evolved to include recurring use as a factor. As a result, ATF is aligning the definition with the best statutory understanding, as informed by judicial decisions.
The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau's summary, as published in the Federal Register.
- What changed in the regulation
1 part of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
Wording on eCFR: the day before it took effect and from the day it took effect (first part listed).
- Compared with
The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau has published 12 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 0 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.
- Before this
No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1140-AB03 since Jan. 1, 2025.
- What happens next and when
This interim final rule ("IFR") is effective on January 22, 2026. Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) June 30, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period. ATF will publish a final rule in the Federal Register adopting the IFR as final with any changes in response to public comments or adopting the IFR as final without change.
The agency's dates, word for word.
The record as published
| Document number | 2026-01141 |
|---|---|
| Action | Interim final rule; request for comments. |
| Agencies | Justice Department; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau |
| Published | Jan. 22, 2026 |
| Effective date | Jan. 22, 2026 |
| Comments close | June 30, 2026 |
| Regulation identifier (RIN) | 1140-AB03 |
| Docket | ATF-2026-0034 |
Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register