California, like Oregon, got scared about the Raich decision.
California, like Oregon, wasn’t sure if handing out official state ID cards for the use of federally-illegal marijuana might subject their state workers to federal prosecution.
California, like Oregon, ignored the fact that Raich didn’t change anything legally, so if they weren’t getting busted before they wouldn’t get busted now.
California, like Oregon, wanted to get an official legal recommendation assuring that they’d be safe.
California, like Oregon, frightened many medical marijuana patients by suspending their program, causing many to destroy their medicine and grow operations.
California, like Oregon, got the same legal advice: Raich changed nothing, go ahead and issue your cards:
(CannabisNews.com) 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.
Which was something everyone already knew before Raich as well. However, I’m concerned about the modification to the application, stating that people’s personal info might be handed over to the feds. How many sick people are going to balk when they see that? I know folks that won’t get the Preferred Shopper card at their grocery store because of the fear their personal info might be misused.
