From November of 1996, the state of California declared the use of marijuana for medical treatment, patients and caregivers had exerted time and effort in the application for medicinal marijuana program identification card. The card allows one to purchase, possess and use the drug through a marijuana program. There are plenty of reasons why people would line up for this card.

Those who apply for the marijuana program card know or have been informed of the drug’s medicinal attributes, such as alleviating chronic illnesses and relieving pain from certain health conditions. The drug is proven to provide relief from nausea from chemotherapy, glaucoma and others. People registered in the marijuana program would possess identification cards that would let the patient or their caregiver purchase the drug easily as they need it.

But medicinal or not, the use of marijuana is still punishable by law. Therefore, an individual who uses marijuana without the ID is actually breaking the law. Thanks to the marijuana program and the card, people are protected from the arrest and court trials that would usually be placed upon marijuana users.

The marijuana cards are also considered as entrance tickets to marijuana centers, the primary distributors of marijuana. These centers are supposed to be allowed to possess and dispense the drug, supplies and informative materials to registered marijuana patients. However, the authorities enforce the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which defines the possession and distribution of regulated drugs, in this case, marijuana, as a violation of federal law and anyone detained through incriminating evidence shall be subjected to prosecution accordingly. Though the authorities said that they would stop the confiscations, there are still reports of occasional raids. A bill, known as the Rhode Island House Bill 5359, has been passed that would license and protect the marijuana centers from the unnecessary raids and terminations. This bill, if passed could be adopted by those who have already implemented the marijuana program. It awaits a House vote within the week to follow.

The patients could also grow their own cannabis plant, which marijuana is cultivated from. This is, as long as they have the authorization and again, the prescription from their doctors and is under a marijuana program. Some cases have been reported of patients growing a number, more than what the doctor ordered. This is because accompanied by the Proposition 215, the Senate Bill 420, compromise between the patients’ advocate and law enforcement, by agreeing the quantities of plants and product allowed per patient without being subject to arrest.

Though marijuana is illegal due to its health risks and side effects, its medicinal attributes cannot be ignored and resulted in reviving an old debate about its legality. Like all prescription drugs, apart from the benefits that the drug provide there are still health risks to be considered. Measures have been made and standards have been set. The drug that has been known to induce a “high” state of mind, causing you to do things you wouldn’t normally do sober. It is up to the self-discipline of the patient to avoid these risks.