Question
In 1996, California legalized medical marijuana. However, that state law conflicted with the federal Controlled Substances act, which made the possession of marijuanan illegal. When
In 1996, California legalized medical marijuana. However, that state law conflicted with the federal Controlled Substances act, which made the possession of marijuanan illegal. When federal agents from the drug enforcement Agency confiscated the drug from a medical marijuana user's home, a group of people prescribed medical marijuana sued the federal government. They argued that the Controlled Substances Act exceeded the government's authority since the use of medical marijuana was within the state of California, not between states.
The case reached the Supreme court in 2004 as Gonzales v. Raich. The Court ruled 6:3 that the government did have authority to prohibit medical marijuana possession and use, even though it was legal in California. It reasoned that since marijuana sales are part of a national market, the federal government can control marijuana possession.
- Based on the constitutional clause identified in part A, explain why the facts in Gonzales v. Raich led to a different holding from the holding in United States v Lopez.
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