Last updated on: 9/24/2019 | Author: ProCon.org

June 6, 2005 – US Supreme Court Rules Congress May Ban Marijuana Use in Gonzalez v. Raich

“California’s [1996 medical marijuana] law conflicted with the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which banned possession of marijuana. After the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized doctor-prescribed marijuana from a patient’s home, a group of medical marijuana users sued the DEA and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in federal district court. [Gonzalez v. Raich, docket no. 03-1454] 

The medical marijuana users argued the Controlled Substances Act – which Congress passed using its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce – exceeded Congress’ commerce clause power. The district court ruled against the group. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and ruled the CSA unconstitutional… the Ninth Circuit ruled using medical marijuana did not ‘substantially affect’ interstate commerce and therefore could not be regulated by Congress…     

In a 6-3 opinion delivered by Justice John Paul Stevens [on June 6, 2005], the Court held that the commerce clause gave Congress authority to prohibit the local cultivation and use of marijuana, despite state law to the contrary…

The majority argued that Congress could ban local marijuana use.”