Prosecutors dropped a marijuana possession charge against Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony on Wednesday, saying it would be tough to get a conviction after a friend claimed the drug was his, not Anthony's.

Anthony was charged with possessing less than one ounce of marijuana on Oct. 15 after a bag with the drug was found in his backpack as the team waited to board a flight to Milwaukee for a preseason game.

Anthony said the drug belonged to a friend, James Cunningham. Cunningham signed an affidavit saying it was his.

Cunningham said he borrowed the backpack without Anthony's knowledge and accidentally left the marijuana in it.

City attorney Cole Finegan said Cunningham's affidavit was forwarded to police for a decision on whether to issue him a citation.

"Carmelo is happy to have been vindicated by the case being dismissed," said Anthony's attorney, Daniel Recht. "From the beginning, he has said he was innocent and never intended to possess the marijuana."

Shortly after Anthony was charged, Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe sent Cole a letter saying Anthony had passed four random drug tests last season and his tests from U.S. Olympic Committee at the Athens Games this summer were also negative.

"He has passed every drug test with the Nuggets because he does not take illegal drugs," Recht said. "The case has upset Carmelo a great deal because he does not want his fans, especially the kids, to get the wrong impression of him."