California Issues State Medical Marijuana ID Cards

After years of effort on the part of Medical Marijuana advocates, California is now issuing state identification cards intended to help legitimate patients avoid unnecessary detainment and arrest. The state’s new Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) is being administered by the California Department of Public Health.

According to a memorandum issued by the Office of the Attorney General, “The Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) was established to provide a voluntary medical marijuana identification card issuance and registry program for qualified patients and their caregivers. The web-based registry system allows law enforcement and the public to verify the validity of qualified patient or caregiver's card as authorization to possess, grow, transport and/or use Medical Marijuana in California.” The new system may benefit patients by allowing the police to quickly determine the validity of a suspect’s medical marijuana claim.

Under the current system, verification may take hours or days; meanwhile, the unfortunate patient may be subject to harassment, arrest, jail, and a loss of their legally possessed stash. The new state card doesn’t show patients' names, only their photos and an ID numbers that the police can quickly input into a website or phone system. The online verification site can be seen here: http://www.calmmp.ca.gov

WHO MAY APPLY?
This is a voluntary program. You may apply if you have a doctor’s recommendation for cannabis use that abides by current state law. The program also accommodates caregivers who are growing or otherwise obtaining marijuana for a sick relative. Patients and caregivers apply through their counties of residence in California. In the Sacramento area, the process involves an appointment with the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services located at 7001 A East Parkway, Suite 650 in Sacramento (near Florin Road and Hwy 99). Their number is (916) 875-5345.

I interviewed a person—we’ll call her Mary Jane, who recently applied for a state ID card in Sacramento and said it was relatively easy. Someone gave her bad directions over the phone, however, and she spent 40 futile minutes at the 7171 Bowling Drive complex, which is related to the Health Department but not MMP. Mary Jane said the Office of Vital Records at the East Parkway site is the correct location.

She said she was met by a friendly representative who had her fill out an application (CDPH) 9042) on which she listed her personal information and recommending doctor. There were other sections you’d have to fill out if you were a caregiver or patient under the age of 18. Mary had been told to bring 1) an official (embossed) copy of her recommendation letter, 2) a picture ID such as driver’s license or passport, 3) a copy of a utility bill to prove residence, and 4) $166.00. If you’re enrolled in Medi-Cal when you apply for the MMP, you pay half of that.

While the case worker was verifying some of Mary’s information, she was given a printout of MMP-related info from the Attorney General’s office which contained lots of minutiae regarding history of cannabis legislation in California and the rights and responsibilities of medical cannabis patients. One paragraph in the 11-page document said, “In 2003, Senate Bill (SB) 420 (Chapter 875, Statutes of 2003) was passed as an extension and clarification of Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. The Medical Marijuana Program, within CDPH, is administered through a patient's county of residence. Upon obtaining a recommendation from their physician for use of medicinal marijuana, patients and their primary caregivers may apply for and be issued, a Medical Marijuana Identification Card. Senate Bill 420 also required that the MMP be fully supported through the card application processing fees. Both the state and the counties have authority to cover their costs for the program through these application fees.”

If you noted with humor the cultural implications behind a marijuana bill called SB 420, you can thank those legislators who still have a sense of humor. There has been much speculation about who numbered the legislation SB 420. No-one is taking credit. I think it was John Vasconcellos personally, but that’s only an opinion based on having interacted with him. He’s a brilliantly humorous person (but so is Senator Mark Leno).

After about ten minutes, the case worker returned and took three digital pictures of Mary Jane for the card. Mary said laughing, “I hope she adjusted for redeye.” The case worker told Mary the card would probably be ready in little over a week assuming the doctor’s recommendation was legitimate. This short wait time may increase as more people take advantage of the program.

Mary Jane asked the agent a question I’m sure is on many people’s minds: will participation in this program draw the attention of the federal government? After all, the feds still consider marijuana a Schedule 1 drug, which means it has no recognized medical use and a high potential for abuse. Possessing even a joint is a felony.

Mary recalled some lyrics from a relatively obscure John and Yoko album called, Sometime in New York City.

It ain't fair, John Sinclair
In the stir for breathing air
Won't you care for John Sinclair?
In the stir for breathing air
Let him be, set him free
Let him be like you and me
(CHORUS) They gave him ten for two
What else can the bastards do?"

"Ten for two" means John Sinclair, a real human being, was sentenced to ten years in prison for possessing two joints. This should throw into relief just how far the cannabis legalization movement has come since cannabis was officlally demonized (See "Reefer Madness"). Marijuana is classified along with heroin, according to the feds, while methamphetamine and cocaine are Schedule 2, implying that cannabis is more dangerous than speed and cocaine. Mary Jane doesn’t think too highly of the federal drug schedule.

“Keep in mind this stupid drug schedule happened under Nixon when pot smokers were protesting the Vietnam War and his presidency. He demonized pot because he hated pot smokers," Mary Jane said. "That's not exactly a good basis for making law, do you think?”

Mary said her case worker assured her the card would not draw undue attention from the federal government and stressed the importance of getting the word out, saying it's probably the best thing a patient can do to minimize risk of persecution.