Gonzales v. Raich
Quick Summary
In Gonzales v. Raich (2005), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress has the authority under the commerce clause of the Constitution to prohibit the local cultivation and use of marijuana, even if it complies with state medical marijuana laws. This decision stemmed from a case where California patients sued the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after their doctor-prescribed marijuana was seized. The medical marijuana users argued that the federal Controlled Substances Act exceeded Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce. However, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, held that Congress could ban local marijuana use because such activities could substantially affect the supply and demand of marijuana in the illicit interstate market.12
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