Big Fee Increase in State ID Card Program

SACRAMENTO - The Dept of Health Services has announced a major fee
hike for the state medical marijuana ID cards, from $13 to $142.
This is the state's share; counties charge an additional fee. The
increase is needed to cover the cost of the program, which has been
running at a major deficit.
Applications for the state card have been running far behind
expectations. So far only 5,631 cards have been issued. Estimates
of the actual number of Prop 215 patients run from 150,000 to
350,000. Only 23 of the state's 58 counties currently offer ID
cards. Officials are hopeful that enrollment will take off once the
San Diego lawsuit is settled and other, large counties come aboard,
such as Los Angeles. However, the fee increase is likely to have the
effect of discouraging new applicants.
- D. Gieringer, Cal NORML
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