Superior Court Judge William Nevitt in San Diego has issued a preliminary ruling denying a lawsuit by San Diego, Riverside and San Bernardino counties seeking to overturn Proposition 215, California's medical marijuana law approved by voters in 1996. The counties had sought to have the law voided because it conflicts with federal law, which does not recognize medical uses for marijuana and prohibits any use or possession of marijuana.

Judge Nevitt ruled that since Prop. 215 does not require residents or officials to do something specifically banned by federal law, it shouldn't be overturned.