The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Tuesday that Congress has forbidden the U.S. Department of Justice from spending money to prosecute individuals who are complying with state medical-marijuana laws.

The court’s ruling appeared to be limited to users and providers who “strictly comply” with all state licensing rules. But the decision could force the Obama administration to reconsider how it’s handling such cases, one of the defense attorneys who argued the case said.