The issue focused on public health issues. The government has no legal authority to tax medical marijuana, but federal law enforcement officials have made it clear that they will continue to enforce federal laws against medical marijuana.

O'Malley said in a statement he was "pleased" that the court issued the ruling. "It is now time for Congress and the President to change federal law so that state medical marijuana laws are fully respected," O'Malley said.

But Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said federal law enforcement