Marijuana is a green mixture of dried, shredded leaves from a hemp plant known as Cannabis Sativa. It can be put into food or smoked. At first, marijuana can make a person feel relaxed and silly, but it can eventually lead to anxiety, depression, panic attacks and paranoia. It is known to be addictive.
These issues do not improve over time. Statistics show that about sixty percent of teenagers in drug treatment programs are there because of marijuana use. They believe that this is a “harmless” drug and will not have any long-term effects.
Over the long term, smoking marijuana can cause an individual to lose interest in almost anything from his or her life. It is more harmful than smoking cigarettes because the tar, carbon monoxide, and cancer-causing chemicals inhaled in marijuana smoke are three to five times higher than the same amount of regular tobacco smoke.
Palm Desert Medical Marijuana Lawyers of Coachella Valley
The Law
In 2003, the Senate passed SB420 (Chapter 875, Statutes of 2003) as an extension of Proposition 215 of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.
The Compassionate Use Act was created “To ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.”
It further states, “To ensure that patients and their primary caregivers who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to criminal prosecution or sanction.”
The Medical Marijuana Program
The Medical Marijuana program was established to provide an individual the use of marijuana for medical purposes only with the recommendation from their physician. They are issued a Medical Marijuana Identification Card. These individuals have authorization to possess, grow, transport and use medical marijuana in the State of California. To facilitate the verification of authorized cardholders, the verification database is available at www.calmmp.ca.gov.
If you have been wrongly charged with criminal possession of marijuana and need the protection of the Compassionate Use Act, contact The Palm Springs Medical Marijuana Attorney at the Law Office of Dale Gribow. We have represented individuals charged with possession in California and we will give you the advice and help you need at this time.