The Santa Clara County Public Health Department's Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program (MMICP) began operation on March 13, 2006.

The MMICP is a program of the State of California that requires counties to administer a voluntary card registration program that allows qualified patients to apply for and receive Medical Marijuana Identification Cards (MMIC) for themselves and their primary caregiver through their county of residence.                
Participation in the program is voluntary.

Background

In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act. The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Health & Safety Code, section 11362.5) ensures that seriously ill patients and their primary caregivers who possess, cultivate or use marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to California criminal prosecution or sanction, when they have a recommendation from a physician. However Proposition 215 did not provide an effective way for law enforcement to properly identify patients who were legally protected by the Act.

Senate Bill (SB) 420 was established to assist law enforcement in identifying Californians who were protected by Proposition 215 and to provide patients and their caregivers with a form of identification that would protect them against wrongful arrest and prosecution.

However, individuals are not protected from marijuana plant seizure or from federal prosecution under the federal Controlled Substances Act. The information provided in the application may be released as required by law, judicial order, or subpoena, and could be used in a federal criminal prosecution.

This section provides the following information (click on the blue link below to go to that section):

Application & Location
Instructions on how to apply for a medical marijuana ID card

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers to questions on how the program operates and legal rights

MMICP Flyer

All information contained in this website is subject to change without notice.

• California Department of Public Health - Medical Marijuana Program