The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 on Monday to allow the federal government to prosecute people who use marijuana in states where it has been legalized for medical use.

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the opinion for the majority. He said the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution gives the government the power to regulate drug use and trafficking.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Clarence Thomas dissented. O'Connor and Thomas said states should be allowed to regulate the use of medical marijuana.

The ruling did not strike down state laws allowing marijuana for medical use.

Get the Story:
A Defeat For Users Of Medical Marijuana (The Washington Post 6/7)
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User of Medical Marijuana Says She'll Continue to Fight (The Washington Post 6/7)
Drug's Users Say Ruling Won't End Their Efforts (The New York Times 6/7)
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Justices Say U.S. May Prohibit the Use of Medical Marijuana (The New York Times 6/7)
Marijuana Patients Remain Defiant (The Los Angeles Times 6/7)
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Decision in Gonzales v. Raich:
Syllabus | Opinion [Stevens] | Concurrence [Scalia] | Dissent [O'Connor] | Dissent [Thomas]

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