Bitten by the Hand that Feeds

In some cases, big government advocates find themselves suffering from the very government they empower. This is very much the case in a recent ruling by the US Supreme Court to OK prosecutions of medical marijuana cases by the federal government. Seems big government is involved in the state's business of legislating the legal use of marijuana for seriously ill individuals. The real question in this case is the constitutionality of the Controlled Substance Act.

It's hard to explain how the federal government has jurisdiction in a case regarding an issue that is solely housed in one state. There is no interstate connection in this case and no apparent infringements on the constitution. There doesn't seem to be any reason for the federal government to be involved at all. But there's a problem. Deciding in favor of the elderly cancer patient in this case would have involved shooting a hole in the constitutionality of one of the governments large investments, the drug war. Even so, we have some principled Supreme Court justices who were able to vote in favor of the elderly cancer patient in California. Who were these defiant justices, voting with the concept that the federal government need not be involved in issues that do not affect it? Only Sandra Day O'Connor, Clarence Thomas, and Chief Justice William Rehnquist (Side note for worried liberals: all of these judges were elected by Republicans). Even though these justice's aren't exactly pro-legalization, they had the wisdom to see that it was California's elected officials who should be tasked with the laws governing the state of California, and the courage to act on this thinking.

Where the federal government has no jurisdiction, it should be ousted. This was an opportunity to oust the fed where it did not rightfully belong. I sad day for those who believe in state's and individual's rights, and an unfortunate reminder to those who empower the federal government to be as intrusive as it is - and don't think Patriot Act here, as it is at least related to a granted role of the federal government, to protect national security - Apples and Oranges - another article.