The County of San Diego will begin issuing medical marijuana identification cards on Monday; nearly two months after the U.S. Supreme Court denied the County’s appeal to a proposition legalizing the use of medical marijuana in California.
The County’s Health and Human Service Agency (HHSA) are accepting applications out of its north central region Health Services Complex off of Rosecrans Street. According to the HHSA Web site, applicants must have written documentation from a Californian physician recommending the use of medical marijuana for one or more serious medical conditions.
Those conditions include AIDS, cancer, and any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that substantially limits a person’s ability to live their lives according to the HHSA.
Under the new laws, a person who wants to purchase medical marijuana must pay a non-refundable application fee of $166 for first time applicants and for people seeking renewals. People with medical cards prior to Monday do not need to reapply until their card expires.
It can take up to 35 days to process the application, which is valid for one year.
Proposition 215, which legalized the use of medical marijuana for medical purposes in California, has sparked much controversy since its passage in 1996. As a result, California legislators fired back in 2003 with California Senate Bill 420 which required medical marijuana users to obtain an identification card proving that they have the state’s approval.
The 2003 law also set limits on the amount of marijuana that patients could posses. It forbade them from having more than eight ounces of marijuana and no more than six mature or 12 immature marijuana plants.
Medical marijuana dispensaries have been sprouting up across San Diego since the court’s approval. The San Diego Cannabis Clubs lists over 40 locations on their web site as to where patients or caregivers can receive marijuana.
San Diego County warns medical marijuana card carriers that possessing and selling marijuana is a federal offense according to the HHSA.
Californians who do possess medical marijuana have been prosecuted by the federal government.
For more information about the issuing of medical marijuana identification cards visit its Web site or call (619) 692-5723.
Joe Armenta is an SDNN intern.
Tags: SDNN
Comment by: grandma Posted: July 6, 2009, 9:05 am
The concept of any prohibition comes from the definition of a sumptuary law. A sumptuary law attempts to control and divide people into classes by limiting the desires of those considered the lesser class. Generally monarch type governments use sumptuary laws to inflict class separation through prohibiting the lesser class from participating in something reserved strictly by the so called upper class royalty.
Any 4th grade student understands this country was founded on the principles of individual freedoms.” A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” -Abraham Lincoln U.S. President. These same people pushing prohibition would be targeted for treason investigation had they been around during the founding of our country! Don’t Be fooled American people any prohibition enforcement against us is as UN-AMERICAN as Hitler!!
Comment by: AB390 Posted: July 6, 2009, 10:01 am
It’s about time! Anti-cannabis bigotry is to blame for the delay. Marijuana should be legal not only for medical patients but for responsible adults who choose it as a healthier substitute for alcohol. If pot were legal, people would drink less alcohol, reducing the social costs associated with alcohol.
Our current marijuana laws are impossible to enforce. Despite decades of marijuana eradication and despite arresting 800,000 people a year, pot is still easier to buy for most high school kids than beer.
Keeping marijuana illegal does not benefit our children. It benefits special interest groups: drug cartels, the prison industry, police departments, and government bureaucracies.
If you want marijuana to be legalized, taxed, and regulated for adults, YOU can make it happen. Tell your legislators to support California Assembly Bill 390. It’s easy. Visit yes390.org
Comment by: Herbi Posted: July 6, 2009, 12:50 pm
Being that Marijuana is a plant that can be consumed in its natural state, it is so much more acceptable than the chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Studies have shown there are many many benefits. Those that claim it is harmful, should read the labels and watch the TV ads for the side effects created from these substances. I agree that it is a healthier and safer alternative to alcohol.
It makes sense to legalize Marijuana, not only for the revenues that states could be making on the taxes, but the innocent people who are put in jail that taxpayers have to pay for.
Some companies are starting to recognize the emerging industry and coming up with solutions that will make it easier for the businesses to comply with government tax issues. Check out Medical Marijuana, Inc. They have a payment solution that allows the dispensary to pay taxes daily and automatically.
http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com
Comment by: Cindy Posted: July 6, 2009, 2:57 pm
It should be legal without question, and the people responsible for locking up innocent people and ruining their lives over it should be prosecuted accordingly. Its such an obvious exploitation of the governments power to profit off of what they can manufacture without having the competition a natural plant like marijuana would bring. Its so obvious, our government tempted by lobbyist with big money make it possible for big pharma to control all the drug markets, just as with alcohol, nicotine, caffeine. These industries are threatened by a plant that has a very desired effect and can be grown freely and easily, its a HUGE threat to these industries. That’s why they tried to create Marinol, to be the only ones legally able to sell THC, one of the chemicals in marijuana, but even with the pill people can still grow it with ease, so it continues to be a HUGE threat to them, which is why they keep pouring money into the political campaigns, so the politicians OWE them one ; ) And that is how America was over taken by legal drug dealers. Oh ya, the most profitable industry is…………….DRUM ROLL…………………..BIG PHARMA
Comment by: David Scott Posted: July 6, 2009, 5:08 pm
Marijuana prohibition has been a total failure and is perhaps this country’s greatest mistake. Not only has it created criminals out of nearly a third of the country’s populace, it costs our society billions of dollars every year, creates a strain on our prison system, and has little or no effect on marijuana use in the US. In some cases, prosecuting marijuana use has turned non-violent, middle class kids into violent and unpredictable, career criminals. Once a person has a criminal conviction on their record, they are far less likely to find a good job and become a useful member of society. Other countries with more liberal drug laws have much lower rates of drug addiction among their people. I invite you to my web-page devoted to raising awareness on the assault on our civil liberties: http://freethegods.blogspot.com/
Comment by: Geettle Posted: July 7, 2009, 10:39 pm
The people who bewail government restrictions when it come to marijuana will NOT object to gun control laws, restrictions on home churches or Mt. Soledad, restrictions on practice of (Christian) religion or right to work (as in Wal Mart). They expect government to respect ONLY their priorities and are OK with tyranny in anything else. Well tyranny is increasing (Janet Napolitano is’s good at it). Obama approves it. There is going to be more of it — lots more. Better get used to it.
Comment by: Anon Posted: July 8, 2009, 2:47 am
In Hawaii, the application fee is only $25 bucks. CA should not charge so much as patients tend to not have much money. Protest the high fee!