Two SoCal Counties Seek Rejection of Medical Marijuana Ruling

Attorneys for San Diego and San Bernardino counties have asked an appellate court to reject a ruling that upholds California’s law legalizing marijuana use by the chronically ill.

Court documents filed Friday urge the Fourth District Court of Appeal to throw out a lower court ruling because local governments shouldn’t be bound to uphold state laws that are weaker than federal guidelines on marijuana.

California voters approved the law in 1996 that allows sick and dying patients to grow and smoke the drug to relieve chronic symptoms. The state requires counties issue identification cards for medical marijuana users and maintain a registry of people who apply for the cards.

Oral arguments in the landmark case are expected this year.