A Superior Court judge has struck down part of a new Alaska law intended to circumvent the state Supreme Court's ruling that legalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana, the Associated Press reported July 11.

Referring to the 1975 marijuana ruling by the high court in the case of Ravin v. State, Superior Court Judge Patricia Collins wrote, "Unless and until the Supreme Court directs otherwise, Ravin is the law in this state and this court is duty bound to follow that law."

The Alaska legislature recently voted to re-criminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. The latest court ruling means police won't be able to charge those in possession of small amounts of the drug with a misdemeanor, as called for in the legislation.

The state is expected to appeal the ruling, which arose from a legal challenge to the law by the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska. The state contends that today's marijuana is more potent than it was in the past, making it more dangerous and subject to greater controls.