California Reinstates Medical Marijuana Patient ID Program

The state of California decided to reinstate its medical marijuana patient ID program days after the decision was soundly criticized by legal authorities, patients, and doctors. The Eureka Times-Standard reported on July 19, 2005 ( "State Resumes Medical Marijuana ID Card Program") that "California Health Director Sandra Shewry announced Monday that the state has resumed its Medical Marijuana ID Card program. After receiving legal advice from the California attorney general that operating the pilot program would not aid and abet marijuana users in committing a federal crime, Shewry directed staff of the California Department of Health Services ( CDHS ) to resume operations that were suspended on July 8. 'The state attorney general has reviewed this concern and said that California can issue ID cards to medical marijuana users without state employees facing prosecution for assisting in the commission of a federal crime,' Shewry said. 'Today ( Monday ) the state resumed operating the Medical Marijuana ID Card program.' But the attorney general also said that information received from applicants for medical marijuana ID cards may be obtained by federal officials to identify them for prosecution. In response, CDHS will be modifying the ID card application to inform applicants that possession of marijuana remains a federal crime and information provided by them could be used for federal prosecution, Shewry said."

The Times-Standard noted that "CDHS began pilot testing an identification card and registry system in three counties -- Amador, Del Norte and Mendocino -- in May. To date, 123 cards have been issued. With the resumption of the program, the pilot testing is scheduled to be completed at the end of this month and the program expanded statewide beginning Aug. 1."