GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Justices with the state Court of Appeals will hear arguments Friday on whether Grand Rapids voters had the right to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Voters in 2012 approved an amendment to make it a civil infraction to possess less than 2.5 ounces of marijuana.

The change survived a legal challenge in 2013 when Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Sullivan ruled that voters had the authority.

"The voters of Grand Rapids had the power to amend the city charter and plaintiff has failed to show that any section of the charter amendment necessarily conflicts with state law," Sullivan wrote in an opinion.

Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth, who led the challenge, maintains that decriminalization conflicts with state law that classifies marijuana possession as a misdemeanor.

Related: Grand Rapids marijuana decriminalization: No spike in cases

Forsyth's office appealed Sullivan's ruling.

Justices with a state Court of Appeals panel on Friday, Nov. 14 will hear oral arguments in the case.

A written opinion likely will be released in several months.

Related: Grand Rapids man gets first citation after marijuana decriminalized

Grand Rapids Police began following the amendment in May 2013 and have been writing civil-infraction tickets since then.

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