By John Knetemann
Would you believe me if I told you that your medical marijuana permit or card is constitutionally valid in every state you enter? That if you have a medical card from Colorado that you have a constitutional right to bring your marijuana into Wyoming? You probably don’t believe me because it is only technically true, but not true in practice.
If you are familiar with the Constitution of the United States you may be familiar with Article IV Section 1 of the Constitution, also known as the Full Faith and Credit Clause. This section states:
“Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.”
Yes, this is written in the Constitution. Unfortunately, it is a pretty meaningless part of the Constitution that has been interpreted in such a way that renders it absolutely worthless. However, that does not mean you can’t use this clause to your advantage. Maybe you will not be able to get out of trouble with the law with this defense, but you can certainly use this as an argument to your “Constitution-loving” conservative buddies.
Perhaps this could be a part of the fight to finish legalization of medical marijuana across the United States. Twenty-three states have allowed medical marijuana, and the Full Faith and Credit Clause could be a factor to finishing the battle.
