California Senate Bill 420
California Senate Bill 420 (also known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act) is a bill that was passed by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Gray Davis in 2003. The bill amends the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, providing a legal framework for the medical use of cannabis in California.
Background[edit | edit source]
The Compassionate Use Act of 1996, also known as Proposition 215, was a California law that allowed the use of medical cannabis despite marijuana's lack of the normal Food and Drug Administration testing for safety and efficacy. However, the law did not provide a legal way for the cannabis to be grown and distributed to the patients who were in need of it. This led to the introduction of Senate Bill 420.
Provisions[edit | edit source]
The main provisions of Senate Bill 420 include:
- Establishing a voluntary medical marijuana card system, which patients can use to prove to law enforcement that they are entitled to possess marijuana for medical purposes.
- Allowing patients and caregivers to form collectives or cooperatives to cultivate marijuana. Commercial sales are still prohibited, but the bill allows for compensation for certain specified expenses.
- Providing protections to doctors and physicians who recommend the use of medical marijuana to their patients from any form of punishment or prosecution.
Impact[edit | edit source]
Since its implementation, Senate Bill 420 has had a significant impact on the medical marijuana industry in California. It has led to the establishment of numerous medical marijuana dispensaries across the state, providing patients with safe and legal access to cannabis for medical use.
Criticism[edit | edit source]
Despite its benefits, Senate Bill 420 has also faced criticism. Some argue that the bill has been exploited by those who use marijuana recreationally rather than for medical purposes. Others believe that the bill does not go far enough in providing access to medical marijuana, particularly for those who live in areas where dispensaries are not readily available.
See also[edit | edit source]
This California law related article is a stub.
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
