06/01/2018 BRIEF, on behalf of Appellant Jose Belen, Alexis Bortell, Dean Bortell, Cannabis Cultural Association Inc., Jagger Cotte, Sebastien Cotte and Marvin Washington, Vs. JEFF SESSIONS et al FILED. Service date 06/01/2018 by CM/ECF.[2316515] [18-859] [Entered: 06/01/2018 10:49 PM]

The Federal Government Informally Acquiesces to State-Legal Medical Cannabis Use………………………………………… 18

PROCEDURAL HISTORY…………………………………..20

STANDARD OF REVIEW …………………………………… 21

ARGUMENT …………………………………………….. 22

POINT I

THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN REQUIRING PLAINTIFFS TO SUBMIT TO MANDATORY ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW ………………….. 22

A. ADMINISTRATIVE EXHAUSTION IS NOT MANDATORY UNDER THE CSA ………………. 22

B. EVEN ASSUMING THAT MANDATORY ADMINISTRATIVE EXHAUSTION WERE REQUIRED UNDER THE CSA, EACH OF THE EXCEPTIONS THERETO APPLIES……………… 26

POINT II THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN RULING THAT PLAINTIFFS’ FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION FAILS TO STATE A CLAIM FOR VIOLATION OF SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS ………………… 33
A.
THELOWERCOURTERREDINRULINGTHAT
THE THREE SCHEDULE I REQUIREMENTS
DO NOT APPLY TO CONGRESS ………………….. 34
B.
DUE TO NEW FACTS AND CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES
THE DOCTRINE OF STARE DEC/SIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS “AS APPLIED” CHALLENGE
……………………..
38
POINT III
THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN RULING TBA T THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE RIGHT TO PRESERVE ONE’S OWN HEALTH AND LIFE …………………………………….. 40
11 Case 18-859, Document 37, 06/01/2018, 2316515, Page2 of 73
POINT IV
PLAINTIFF CCA HAS STANDING AND STATES A CLAIM FOR VIOLATION OF THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE
……………………….
45
A. PLAINTIFF CCA HAS STANDING
………………. 46
B.
THE LOWER COURT COMMITTED CLEAR ERROR BY FAILING TO CONSIDER
PLAINTIFFS’
EQUAL PROTECTION
CLAIM IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION’S
RACIAL AND POLITICAL
ANIMUS…………………………………..
47
POINT V
THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN DISMISSING
PLAINTIFFS’
RIGHT TO TRAVEL
AND FIRST AMENDMENT
CLAIMS ……………………… 50
POINT VI
THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION IN GONZALEZ v. RAICH SHOULD BE OVERTURNED …………….. 59
CONCLUSION ……………………………………………
59