MODESTO BEE
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

By ADAM ASHTON
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: November 17, 2006, 05:24:52 AM PST

A San Diego County judge on Thursday issued a tentative ruling ordering California counties to comply with the state's medical marijuana law, a decision that could put new pressure on Stanislaus County to issue medical pot ID cards.
San Diego County asserted that a federal ban on marijuana trumps state laws allowing people to use it with a doctor's approval. Judge William R. Nevitt Jr. rejected that argument.

Merced and San Bernardino counties joined San Diego in the lawsuit. None of the three counties has issued medical marijuana cards, which are required under a 2003 state law.

Merced County spokesman Mark Hendrickson said the county would "abide by any and all judicial rulings."

After issuing his tentative ruling, Nevitt heard two hours of oral arguments from San Diego County and the state.

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