Americans for Safe Access reports that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has abandoned its policy of arresting medical cannabis patients and confiscating their medicine. ASA had filed a lawsuit filed on behalf of six patients. On August 22nd, the CHP quietly changed its policy to officially recognize the rights of lawful patients under California’s Proposition 215.

The CHP has been responsible for over one fourth of all medical cannabis arrests and confiscations that are reported to ASA in California. It had been CHP policy to confiscate all medical cannabis found during traffic stops regardless of whether or not the patient had an ID card or a valid doctor’s recommendation.

ASA says, "The new change in CHP policy is a dramatic step towards protecting medical cannabis patients and caregivers in California. The new policy requires CHP officers to honor state-issued medical cannabis ID cards and letters of recommendations as proof of an individual’s status as a legal patient or primary caregiver... patients and caregivers (will have) vastly more freedom and peace of mind when carrying medication on California’s highways." ASA says that it will now pressure local police departments and county sheriffs to bring their policies into line with the CHP. ASA still plans to pursue the lawsuit, to be sure that patients and caregivers have legal recourse if the CHP fails to uphold the new policy. Read more

More information and background on ASA’s lawsuit | CHP Memo About Revised Policy | Past Indybay Coverage of ASA's Lawsuit Against the CHP