High court hears challenge to medical-marijuana law changes

People angry about sweeping changes made to a voter-approved law legalizing medical marijuana are calling on the state’s highest court to rein in the legislature’s power to amend measures passed at the ballot box.

Steven Maxfield with The People’s Right group said Monday the alterations undid much of what the voters wanted and are part of a troubling pattern of state leaders changing voter-approved laws.

This group wants the court to overturn the changes and go back to original measure known as Proposition 2. Though the justices appeared skeptical about that, they did grill government lawyers about whether lawmakers went too far.

Legislative attorney Eric Weeks says defended their actions, saying voter-approved laws are subject to being changed or repealed like any other law.

The justices did not indicate when they would rule.