Raich, addressed the need for state power. California was the first state to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. In 1996, the Compassionate Use Act was passed to guarantee that severely ill residents have access to marijuana for medicinal purposes. It also created an exemption from criminal prosecution of physicians and patients. Litigants Angel Raich and Diane Monson, both California residents, suffered from serious medical conditions and marijuana provides the only effective treatment. But because of the federal Controlled Substance Act, the Drug Enforcement Administration arrived at Monson’s house and seized all of her marijuana. The respondents challenged the enforcement of the federal law which resulted in a ruling that the California law exceeded congressional authority of the Commerce Clause because it was a local state activity (Woll). Because the incident was a local state activity, it exceeded the Commerce Clause, the national government could not intervene. This is significant because it provides further need of federalism. If the national government controlled everything, it’s as if the government is taking away the rights of the people. The states would have no say over what the citizen’s needs and rights are. The due process and equal protection clause of the 14th amendment states the national government cannot take away the rights and liberties of the people. Therefore, federalism is needed to protect the …show more content…
The centralized state of Sudan attempted to centralize its government by passing a Arabisation and Islamisation policy for the entire nation. But it ultimately failed and a rebellion ensued which decentralized the nation because the different regions and tribes had differing perspectives (Sudan). Essentially, the unitary system did not work because of Sudan’s diversity. The unitary system in Sudan caused disunity which led to rebellion and chaos. Sudan is a powerful example of why federalism is needed in a diverse country like the United