Definition of states rights: People for states rights believe that the states are equal to the power

of the
national government and that the Constitution was created with collective interests and representation of
all the states. Therefore, the ratification of the constitution was made possible by three-fourths the
affirmative votes of the states, and not by the vote of the people or the public. They argue that the power
of the national government should be limited and that the states should be able to have most of the power
to deal with their own affairs. Overall, the states right position does not want the federal government to
have too much power, or specifically to have more power than the states.
Medical Marijuana: State and Federal Government Powers
Medical marijuana has been a heated debate with lawmakers from all over the country. The main
argument is how strict the regulation of the substance would be deemed proper. Although there have been
some states that have accepted the use of it in a variety of methods such as state licensing, it cannot be
ignored that there are still state and federal government conflicts regarding the use of medical marijuana.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is a nonprofit organization
working towards the legalization of marijuana and desires to repeal federal anti-marijuana laws. The
organization believes the repeal of federal anti-marijuana laws would allow states to experiment with
different models of legalization. To show this, NORML has attempted to decriminalize minor marijuana
offenses and have successfully done so in a handful of states. However, their efforts have been stymied by
presidents such as Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and their stance on the war on drugs. 1
State lawmakers have begun to recognize the medical benefits of marijuana. However, for a long period
of time, marijuana was seen as a Schedule I drug (has no medical use in society) by the federal
government. As of today, there has been an ongoing effort to classify marijuana as a Schedule II drug
(accepted for medical use) by a group of bipartisan senators, so states are free to establish medicalmarijuana laws without fear of legal actions from the federal government. Senators Rand Paul, Cory
Booker, and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the CARERS Act (Compassionate Access, Research
Expansion, and Respect States) in an effort to fully legalize medical marijuana in [the] states that have
already passed medical marijuana [legalization]. As a defense against future federal marijuana charges in
the states that have already passed its [legalization]. 2
Marijuana users and growers face the constant fear of conflict from the federal government. Although the
federal government has legalized the possession of small amounts for personal use, the federal
government and Congress are still very against its use. As a result, there have been a multitude of federal
laws created to limit its use and actions from the Drug Enforcement Administration to interfere with the
exchange of marijuana regardless of whether or not the dispensary has a state license. 3
Bibliography

1 Shirelle Phelps and Jeffrey Lehman. "National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2nd
ed. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 185. U.S. History in Context. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

2 Brian Resnick. "These Senators Are Making the Case for Medical Weed." Nationaljournal.com 10 Mar. 2015. U.S. History in Context. Web. 3
Apr. 2015.

3 "Marijuana milestone; Drugs policy." The Economist 8 Nov. 2014: 16(US). U.S. History in Context. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

Phelphs, Shirelle, and Jeffrey Lehman. "National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws."
West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2nd ed. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 185. U.S. History in Context.
Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
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"Marijuana milestone; Drugs policy." The Economist 8 Nov. 2014: 16(US). U.S. History in Context. Web.
3 Apr. 2015.
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Resnick, Brian. "These Senators Are Making the Case for Medical Weed." Nationaljournal.com 10 Mar.
2015. U.S. History in Context. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.
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