CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS LIMITS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

In 1996 California voters approved Proposition 215 which approved the medical use of marijuana. In 2003 the state legislature passed Senate Bill 420 which attempted to regulate the medical use of marijuana. Among the provisions of SB 420 was a rule limiting the amount of medical marijuana an individual may possess to eight ounces and six plants. A second provision created a voluntary ID card for those who possess no more marijuana than the statute’s limits.

Patrick Kelly was arrested and convicted for possession of seven plants and twelve ounces of marijuana in his house even though he has the required permission from a doctor to use medical marijuana. The Court of appeals reversed his conviction finding that limits on the amount of medical marijuana one may possess is an unconstitutional modification to Proposition 215 and that the ID cards which are only available to those who possess less than eight ounces are also unconstitutional.

The state constitution prohibits the legislature from modifying a proposition enacted by a vote of the people. Both sides admit that any limit on the amount of medical marijuana a person can possess cannot exceed what a person needs and that different individual may need different amounts. Both sides also want to save the medical marijuana cards.

Now it is up to the Supreme Court. It has ninety days to rule.