GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The city's 2012 amendment to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana has cleared a final legal challenge.

State Supreme Court justices, in a split decision, declined to hear an appeal from Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth in a ruling issued Saturday, Dec. 12.

Related: Grand Rapids marijuana decriminalization on track for state Supreme Court

Since voters approved the measure in 2012 -- making possession of less than 2.5 ounces of marijuana a civil infraction -- Forsyth has sought to have it overturned.

He argued the amendment wrongly prohibits Grand Rapids police from enforcing state law, or reporting marijuana offenses to county prosecutors.

A state appeals court disagreed with Forsyth's view in January, and he appealed to the Supreme Court.

The highest court's ruling was not without dissension.

Justices Stephen Markman and David Viviano wanted to hear the case.

Viviano wrote:

"I would have granted the application because I believe this case presents an important constitutional question concerning whether a home rule city may, through its charter, encroach upon a county prosecutor's broad power to enforce state law.

"I believe this case presents a conflict between the authority of a local municipality to govern its affairs and a county prosecutor's broad constitutional discretion as "the chief law enforcement officer of the county" to decide whether to prosecute or what charges to file," Viviano wrote.

Related: Grand Rapids decriminalization of marijuana stands - Kent County prosecutor loses

Viviano, in his dissent, said he hopes the state Legislature will clarify the rights and responsibilities of a city police department and the county prosecutor once an arrest is made.

He suggested the state's "Home Rule City Act" could be amended to close a "loophole" that allows charter amendments to override a state criminal law.

E-mail John Tunison: jtunison@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/johntunison