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New CHP policy now allows patients to carry medical marijuana
The Associated Press | 8/28/2005

SACRAMENTO -- The California Highway Patrol has stopped confiscating all medical marijuana during traffic stops, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that left intact a state law allowing the drug to be used for medicinal purposes.

The policy change was a victory for medical marijuana advocates, namely the Oakland-based Americans for Safe Access, which sued the CHP and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this year to have the practice stopped.

The group's executive director, Steph Sherer, said it would send a "clear message" that patients' rights need to be protected.

"Our hope is this will ripple around the state," she said.

CHP officers were told in an Aug. 22 bulletin of the new policy, which now allows patients traveling on state highways to have as much as 8 ounces of marijuana if they had a certified user identification card or written approval from a physician.

CHP spokesman Lt. Joe Whiteford, who said patrol officers now "have got their marching orders," noted that law enforcement officials were initially confused about how to interpret a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

In June, the court ruled that users of medical marijuana in a dozen states, including California, are not shielded from federal prosecution. However, the justices did not rule on the state's 1996 law that legalized medical marijuana.

Advocates have long complained that police officers continued to confiscate medical marijuana even after the law took effect. Law enforcement officials, however, had maintained that they would continue the practice until the state issued identification cards for legitimate cannabis users.

California health officials began issuing identification cards earlier this year, but patients have been slow to participate. Only about 180 cards were issued.

Several cities and counties in the state started their own programs. San Francisco, for example, has about 8,000 registered cannabis users.

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SkyTripper

This is definitely a major victory for medical marijuana users in Cal.
Hopefully, other states with similar med. mj laws will do the same.
This new policy should send a clear message to the federal govt. and the Supreme Court.....hopefully, Congress too.
Now....are all CHP's going to follow orders......we will see about that.
They had no business confiscating medical marijuana in the first place.

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IbeToken

There is no reason to confiscate marijuana, regardless of whether or not it is for medicinal purposes. Marijuana is better and safer than alcohol and there is no reason why there should be one more second of marijuana prohibition in this country.

winnebago

this is wonderful news.

i am a medical user who just recently had a run in with the police down in santa barbara. even with my physician recommendation in hand the police laughed at me and went ahead and wrote me a ticket.. court is in 2 days too. =o

king cola

"i am a medical user who just recently had a run in with the police down in santa barbara. even with my physician recommendation in hand the police laughed at me and went ahead and wrote me a ticket"

What a bunch of a$$holes

Atleast they are leaving medical marijuana users alone now while carrying pot in their cars on the highway.