California Medical Marijuana Laws.
Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is produced from parts of the cannabis plant, primarily the cured flowers and gathered trichomes of the female plant. The major active chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly referred to as THC, has psychoactive and medicinal effects when consumed, usually by smoking, vaporizing, or ingestion.
Medical Marijuana can provide relief for many conditions including insomnia, asthma, fibromyalgia, digestive disorders, depression, chronic pain, arthritis, migraines, cancer, AIDS, appetite disorders, anxiety, IBS, glaucoma, menstrual cramping, persistent muscle spasms, seizures, severe nausea, or any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that either substantially limits the ability of the person to conduct one or more major life activities, or if not alleviated, may cause serious harm to the patient's safety, physical or mental health.
Proposition 215
PROPOSITION 215, the California Compassionate Use Act, was enacted by the voters and took effect on Nov. 6, 1996 as California Health & Safety Code 11362.5. The law makes it legal for patients and their designated primary caregivers to possess and cultivate marijuana for thier personal medical use given the recommendation or approval of a California-licensed physician.
California was one of the first states to legalize Medical Marijuana. In 1996, voters passed Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act, legalizing marijuana for medical use.
Proposition 215 permits seriously ill Californians to use marijuana, provided they first obtain a doctor's recommendation.
Proposition 215 also gives doctors a legal defense against professional or legal sanctions for recommending marijuana use.
Senate Bill 420
SB 420 was a compromise that considered much input from patients and reformers. It clears up certain implementation issues surrounding Prop 215 (HS11362.5) and formulates a voluntary system to protect patients from arrest. It sets biased and unrealistic standards as the default baseline for protection, but also empowers localities to adopt scientific local medical marijuana guidelines.