A state appeals court endorsed California’s medical marijuana law. The three panel judge ruled in favor of issuing government sponsored ID cards to users who may benefit medically from marijuana. The 1996 state law had San Diego supervisors up in arms to overturn it, but in 2006 a Superior Court ruled against them, which they appealed against last year along with San Bernardino.

The counties argument was the violation of federal law, if they issued identification cards to eligible users, as required by the 1996 state law, as it does not recognize the state measure.

The appeals court ruled that ID card laws "do not pose a significant impediment" as the federal Controlled Substances Act is designed to “combat recreational drug use, not to regulate a state's medical practices."

Thomas D. Bunton, senior deputy county counsel in San Diego said, "The court didn't really get to the key issue, (Federal law) clearly regulates medical practices. It says marijuana has no currently accepted medical use."

The counties can either appeal the ruling to the California Supreme Court or go ahead with the ID card issuance within 40 days.