By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 11:11 p.m. ET OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- California Attorney General Bill Lockyer is backing an Oakland cannabis distribution club in its fight with the federal government over medical marijuana. Lockyer filed a brief with the California Supreme Court on Tuesday arguing that the state has the right to enforce its medical marijuana law, which was approved by voters in 1996. The law allows seriously ill patients to use marijuana, conflicting with federal anti-drug laws. The brief was filed in case scheduled to go before the Supreme Court on March 28. The Clinton administration sued the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club and five other California pot clubs in 1998. A federal district judge sided with the government in its efforts to halt the Oakland club from distributing the drug. But last year, an appeals court ruled that ``medical necessity'' is a legal defense. The Oakland club, the only one of the original six still functioning, is not distributing marijuana, but is issuing identification cards to be ready if it does get a favorable court ruling.