Reference no: EM132306093

The legislature of the state of Colorado has passed a statute which allows state residents to purchase marijuana legally. The U.S. Congress (federal) has passed a statute which prohibits the purchase of marijuana. John, a Colorado resident, legally purchases marijuana in Colorado. When he steps outside the store he is stopped and arrested by officers of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The DEA is a law enforcement arm of the federal government. John defends himself in court stating that he bought marijuana in Colorado under a state statute which legalized the drug. The government contests his statement, insisting that John is guilty of purchasing illegal narcotics under the existing federal statute. Eventually, John appeals his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Will the court rule that the purchase is legal under the state law or illegal under the federal law?