United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative

United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative
Supreme Court of the United States
Argued March 28, 2001
Decided May 14, 2001
Full case nameUnited States of America v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative
Citations532 U.S. 483 (more)
121 S. Ct. 1711; 149 L. Ed. 2d 722; 2001 U.S. LEXIS 3518
Case history
PriorUnited States v. Cannabis Cultivators Club, 5 F. Supp. 2d 1086 (N.D. Cal. 1998); reversed sub. nom., United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, 190 F.3d 1109 (9th Cir. 1999); cert. granted, 531 U.S. 1010 (2000).
Holding
There is no medical necessity defense to a charge under the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. § 841 et seq.
Court membership
Chief Justice
William Rehnquist
Associate Justices
John P. Stevens · Sandra Day O'Connor
Antonin Scalia · Anthony Kennedy
David Souter · Clarence Thomas
Ruth Bader Ginsburg · Stephen Breyer
Case opinions
MajorityThomas, joined by Rehnquist, O'Connor, Scalia, Kennedy
ConcurrenceStevens (in judgment), joined by Souter, Ginsburg
Breyer took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
Laws applied
21 U.S.C. § 841 et seq.

In United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, 532 U.S. 483 (2001), the United States Supreme Court rejected the common-law medical necessity defense to crimes enacted under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970,[1] regardless of their legal status under the laws of states such as California that recognize a medical use for marijuana.[2] Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative was represented by Gerald Uelmen.

  1. ^ 21 U.S.C. § 841 et seq.
  2. ^ United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, 532 U.S. 483 (2001). Public domain This article incorporates public domain material from this U.S government document.