{"argument_date":"2004-11-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-29T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","paragraphs":["Paul Clement argued Congress comprehensively regulates the national drug market.","Paul Barnett argued the activity is non-economic and wholly intrastate.","Justice Scalia noted Congress does not want interstate commerce in marijuana.","Justice Stevens asked why the government relies on the possibility of diversion."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-11"}]}],"caption":"Ashcroft v. Raich","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.778163Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.790413Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal drug laws override state medical marijuana programs.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-35"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-29T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-1454.html","primary_docket":"03-1454","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:16:51.073581Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The case tests the reach of federal commerce power over local drug use."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-35"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 29, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The federal government wants to enforce its drug ban on all users.","The patients want to grow and use marijuana under state law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues Congress regulates the entire national drug market.","The patients argue local medical use is non-economic and purely intrastate."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-35"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if these two patients represent typical users.","Justice O'Connor asked if prior cases limit Congress's broad statutory language here."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between federal drug enforcement and state medical policies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-35"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-11"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1454-ashcroft-v-raich","term":"2004","title":"Does federal law ban homegrown medical marijuana?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 41-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1454.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-35"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}