The state of California will appeal a court ruling that struck down legislative limitations on the amount of marijuana that can be possessed by medical users, the Los Angeles Times reported June 6.

The California legislature in 2003 amended the 1996 Compassionate Use Act to limit possession of medical marijuana to 8 ounces of dried marijuana, six mature plants, or 12 immature plants. Last month, however, the California Court of Appeal in Los Angeles voided the law, saying it was unconstitutional.

Attorney General Jerry Brown announced this week that the state would appeal that decision, saying it impedes the state's ability to control abuses of the medical-marijuana law. Brown said he supports medical marijuana but noted, "You do not need an unlimited quantity of marijuana for medicine. But what is the quantity?"

Even some medical-marijuana advocates worry that the law is being abused by illicit dealers, threatening access by legitimate medical users. The absence of guidelines could be "detrimental in the long run," said Kris Hermes of Americans for Safe Access. "It's all left up to the discretion of the police and courts, and that is not good."

Other advocates support the appeals court decision, however.