GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The city's 2012 voter-approved amendment to decriminalize marijuana has withstood two legal challenges, but a third is on the horizon.

Tim McMorrow, appeals division attorney with the Kent County Prosecutor's office, said he expects to ask the state Supreme Court to hear the case.

McMorrow's comment comes as the state Court of Appeals on Friday, Jan. 9, ruled in favor of the city and let the marijuana law stand.

City voters in November 2012 approved a charter amendment to make the possession of small amounts of marijuana a civil infraction instead of a misdemeanor. A few months later, police began writing civil citations.

Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth soon filed a lawsuit against the amendment and city. Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Sullivan in May 2013 rejected the challenge.

Forsyth appealed again.

Related: 'Not about voters' rights,' Kent County attorney argues about Grand Rapids marijuana decriminalization

In today's ruling, justices said they don't believe the infraction law conflicts with state marijuana statutes as argued by Forsyth.

The amendment created a civil infraction, justices wrote, but does not prohibit prosecutors from elevating a violation to a misdemeanor.

Prosecutors also argued the amendment inappropriately prohibits Grand Rapids police from reporting certain marijuana infractions to the prosecutor's office.

Related: Grand Rapids marijuana decriminalization: No spike in cases

But justices again disagreed. They said police have no obligation to notify prosecutors about violations.

McMorrow contends justices simply got it wrong.

"I disagree with their analysis," he said.

Jack Hoffman, who represented a group called Decriminalize GR, said he was pleased with the ruling.

"It's a good day for the city," he said. "I think everybody on our side would prefer it not be appealed. We should just all get together on the same page and go forward," Hoffman said.

Tyler Nickerson, a spokesman for Decriminalize GR, said he was glad to see the appeals court rule on the side of more than 40,000 voters who supported the charter amendment in 2012.

"We felt from the beginning this had good legal standing," he said.

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