Article VI: National Supremacy
Marijuana legalization shows Supremacy Clause conflicts
When states legalized marijuana while federal law still prohibited it, federal law technically overrode state legalization—but the federal government chose not to enforce federal prohibition in states that had acted. The legal conflict never got a clean judicial resolution; it required a political decision about where to deploy enforcement resources.
Same-sex marriage demonstrated constitutional supremacy
Before 2015, some states banned same-sex marriage while others allowed it. The Supreme Court's Obergefell decision established that same-sex marriage was a constitutional right. Under the Supremacy Clause, that constitutional right overrode state bans, and state laws had to change to comply.
Article VI: National Supremacy
Marijuana legalization shows Supremacy Clause conflicts
When states legalized marijuana while federal law still prohibited it, federal law technically overrode state legalization—but the federal government chose not to enforce federal prohibition in states that had acted. The legal conflict never got a clean judicial resolution; it required a political decision about where to deploy enforcement resources.
Same-sex marriage demonstrated constitutional supremacy
Before 2015, some states banned same-sex marriage while others allowed it. The Supreme Court's Obergefell decision established that same-sex marriage was a constitutional right. Under the Supremacy Clause, that constitutional right overrode state bans, and state laws had to change to comply.
Article VI: National Supremacy
Marijuana legalization shows Supremacy Clause conflicts
When states legalized marijuana while federal law still prohibited it, federal law technically overrode state legalization—but the federal government chose not to enforce federal prohibition in states that had acted. The legal conflict never got a clean judicial resolution; it required a political decision about where to deploy enforcement resources.
Same-sex marriage demonstrated constitutional supremacy
Before 2015, some states banned same-sex marriage while others allowed it. The Supreme Court's Obergefell decision established that same-sex marriage was a constitutional right. Under the Supremacy Clause, that constitutional right overrode state bans, and state laws had to change to comply.