Medical Marijuana Patients on State-Issued Cannabis Cards
Majority of patients, caregivers,and advocates including marijuana doctors found the new scheme of San Francisco authorities as a systematic way of implanting the law as well as the needs of the people. The authorities had launched a new scheme associated with protecting medical marijuana users from local prosecution. Terence Hallinan, District
Attorney had announced the provision of giving medical marijuana cards to medical marijuana patients and caregivers. Medical marijuana patients and caregivers could obtain official medical marijuana cards by securing a recommendation from a doctor and $25. According to Hallinan, “This represents another stone in the foundation we’re building to make people recognize that medical marijuana is a legitimate medicinal agent.” The legalization of marijuana for medical use had been approved in 1996 by voters of California although prohibitions on the drug have been questioned and disputed legally since then. Take for instance, the Office of National Drug Control Policy had opposed to the medical marijuana card program claiming that it just leads the way to full legalization of marijuana. While federal government continues to oppose the use of marijuana for medical purposes, signs as to the government’s arguments against allowing marijuana for medicinal use have been evidently weakening.
In fact, several states have also implemented their own medical marijuana card programs.
On the other hand, even if the medical marijuana card program will protect medical marijuana patients,
caregivers, and marijuana doctors, who recommend the drug to patients, from local prosecution, the federal law maintains that marijuana is illegal regardless of whatever purpose it serves. On the other hand, despite federal government’s intervention on marijuana-related concerns, Hallinan is still positive about the success of the medical marijuana card program. He said, “I’m not really worried we won’t be able to work things out with the federal government.” Many advocates (patients, caregivers, marijuana doctors) of medical marijuana have expressed their delight over the implementation of the medical marijuana card program in San Francisco. Jane Weirick, a marijuana user for decreasing her back pain said that the medical marijuana cards would provide them with legitimacy.
Weirick said that medical marijuana had helped her in many ways and that a scheme such as the medical marijuana card program will make it easier for her to obtain the drug. San Francisco residents can obtain their medical marijuana cards by securing a licensed or marijuana doctor’s recommendation. In addition, their licensed or marijuana doctors should sign a form that prompts them to monitor the medical condition of their patients using medical marijuana. On the other hand, patients who are minors and want to obtain medical marijuana cards would have to get the approval of their parents in addition to the doctor’s recommendation. The medical marijuana cards expire in two years, making no mention as to how patients will obtain the drug. However, police enforcement had expressed their support for the program, saying that the medical marijuana card system would make it easier for them to distinguish medical marijuana users and marijuana doctors from those using and recommending the drug for recreation.Hallinan, on the other hand, had refused to implement the United States government’s “War on Drugs.” He referred to himself as “America’s most progressive district attorney” and favors lenient sentences for minor offenses related to drugs.
Tags: marijuana doctors, marijuana doctors California, medical marijuana doctors
