California
Updated: 20 Apr 2010
Population: 36,580,371
GDP Per Capita: $42,064
Decriminalized: Yes
Medical Marijuana: Yes
Laws & Penalties
Possession:
-Minimum: Fine or drug education (varies by case)
-Maximum: $100 fine, no jail time
Sales:
-Minimum: No fine, 2 years
-Maximum: No fine, 4 years
Manufacturing:
-Minimum: No fine, 16 months
-Maximum: No fine, 36 months
Pending Legislation:
-Senate Bill 1449, Marijuana Possession
Reduces marijuana possession penalties for adults from misdemeanor to infraction; awaits review by Senate Committee on Public Safety on April 20, 2010.
-Assembly Bill 1811, Drug Paraphernalia
Amends legal definition of “drug paraphernalia” to exclude items involved in medical marijuana use; approved by Committee on Public Safety in March 2010, awaits review by full Assembly.
-Assembly Bill 2254, Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act
Legalizes production, distribution and personal use of limited amounts of marijuana for adults over 21, awaits review by full Assembly.
-Senate Joint Resolution 14, Relative to Medical Marijuana
Non-binding resolution to halt interference in California medical marijuana laws, awaits review by full Assembly.
Medical Marijuana
Summary: It became effective Nov. 6, 1996. The bill was amended in 2003 to establish the amount of marijuana a patient and their primary caregiver could possess and also granted dispensaries a legal defense. The amendments became effective in January 2004.
Registered Patients: 10,941
Amount Allowed: Registered patients 8 ounces of dried marijuana, 6 plants, 12 immature plants (if a doctor recommends more, patient may possess more); Unregistered patients may possess reasonable amount with recommendation from doctor
Qualifying Conditions: AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, persistent muscle spasms, including those associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures associated with but not limited to epilepsy, severe nausea
Distribution System: Dispensaries, unregulated by the state
Patient/ Caretaker Registration Fee: $66/$33 Medi-Cal (plus any fees mandated by the county)
Dispensary Fee: Varies by county