County issues ID cards for medical marijuana County issues ID cards for medical marijuana (January 11, 2006)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

San Mateo County residents with a doctor's prescription for medical marijuana can now apply for an ID card that allows them to buy a limited amount -- if they can find a place to buy it legally.

Medical marijuana is still a legally murky area. While the state and county support its use, it is still prohibited by federal law.

A Medical Marijuana Identification Ccard would also be valuable when a legal user is stopped by the police. A card entitles the owner to possess up to 8 ounces of marijuana, six mature plants, or 12 immature plants, said John Conley, San Mateo County's deputy director for public health. "The card is a convenience for law enforcement and for the patient," he said.

There is no place in San Mateo County currently licensed to sell marijuana for medical purposes, Mr. Conley said. Patients must take their prescriptions to San Francisco or Oakland to obtain medical marijuana legally.

Approximately 2,800 county residents qualify for medical marijuana under California's Compassionate Use Act, Mr. Conley said. The Board of Supervisors authorized the cards last November and set a fee of $45, with a 50 percent discount for Medi-Cal patients. With a doctor's prescription, cards can be issued to a primary care provider or a patient. They must be renewed each year.

Applicants must apply in person to the county's Public Health and Vital Statistics office located at 225 37th Ave. in San Mateo. They must provide a note from a physician, and proof of identity and residence. They pay the fee and have a photo taken.

The county has 30 days to approve or deny the application and forward it to the state, which has five days to issue the card.

The applicant must pick the card up in San Mateo.

For information, call the office of vital Statistics at 573-2395, or go online to dhs.ca.gov/mmp.

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