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ACLU backs CA's medical marijuana law

The American Civil Liberties Union is stepping in to defend California's medical marijuana law in the wake of Thursday's raids of medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego. The ACLU is asking the st

The American Civil Liberties Union is stepping in to defend California's medical marijuana law in the wake of Thursday's raids of medical marijuana dispensaries in San Diego. The ACLU is asking the state court to force San Diego to comply with the state law. KPBS reporter Amy Isackson has details.

California voters passed Proposition 215 a decade ago. It allows sick and dying patients to grow and use marijuana for medical purposes.

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Earlier this year, San Diego's County Board of Supervisors sued the state to overturn the law. They say federal law that prohibits medical marijuana trumps California's law which permits it.

ACLU executive director Kevin Keenan says when officers raided medical marijuana dispensaries recently, they violated state law. He says that's ironic.

Keenan: "The county is spending time focusing on prosecuting abuses when it could prevent abuses by having a better run system."

Law enforcement officials in San Diego say they support medical marijuana laws and went after dispensaries that abuse them. Amy Isackson, KPBS news.