In San Francisco, California, medical marijuana users are taking their cases to court and getting their felony charges dismissed. Unfortunately, many police and prosecutors are finding out that there is a “gray area” between their state law and federal law.

The California Supreme Court is tossing out many felony marijuana cases as well as many other marijuana possessions. The gray area is the question, “What is the maximum amount of cannabis a medical marijuana patient can possess?”

So far, the high court has struck down a 7-year-old state law that imposed an 8-ounce limit on the amount of pot medical users of marijuana could possess. The court said patients are entitled to a “reasonable” amount of the drug to treat their ailments. Law enforcement officials say the ruling has made the murky legal landscape of marijuana policy in California even more challenging to enforce.

In 1996, California voters legalized medical marijuana. However, just like in many other states local laws may legalize marijuana but federal law view marijuana as illegal. To make matters worse, this November, state voters will have a ballot measure to vote on that legalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana. Once again, what is meant by “small amounts”?