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PHOENIX - The Arizona Supreme Court has refused to accelerate consideration of an appeal of a judge's ruling that the state's medical marijuana law is constitutional.

The justices without comment Tuesday denied Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery's request to transfer the appeal to the state Supreme Court so that it bypasses the mid-level Court of Appeals.

Transferring the case would've hastened an ultimate ruling by months.

Montgomery's office had said the law's interpretation is important across Arizona and needs to get decided quickly.

A judge ruled in December that the county must provide zoning clearance for a Sun City medical marijuana dispensary because federal drug laws don't stand in the way of Arizona's medical marijuana law.

Montgomery contends county employees could be federally prosecuted if they help marijuana growing, distribution or marketing.