DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Court of Appeals has shot down an activist’s attempt to reclassify marijuana in the state. The court says in a ruling Wednesday that the Iowa Board of Pharmacy had proper authority to deny Carl Olsen’s request in 2013 to reclassify marijuana as a controlled substance that has medical use.

Olsen, a self-described activist for marijuana use, says the ruling adds legal clarification to the issue. He is focusing on a separate legal challenge against the pharmacy board that seeks to address the classification issue. That case is pending in district court. The appeals decision comes after the Iowa Legislature failed this session to agree on how to update the state’s medical marijuana law.