Medical cannabis may be legally used and cultivated by qualified patients in California under Prop. 215, with a recommendation from a licensed physician. Patients under 18 require the approval of parents to use medical cannabis. See: Patient’s Guide to Medical Marijuana in California
Adults over 21 may use cannabis recreationally without a doctor’s note, and cultivate six plants per parcel of land in California. Locals may “reasonably regulate” personal cannabis gardens, and the courts have ruled they can ban personal medical marijuana cultivation, which under state law is limited only by the amount that a patient needs. State law allows cooperative gardens of up to five patients. See: Cannabis Cultivation Guidelines in California.
The Conant decision, which the US Supreme Court let stand, protects physicians who recommend marijuana for medicine (Oct 15, 2003).
US Supreme Court overturns 9th Circuit Raich-Monson decision, upholds federal ban on personal use & cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes (Jun 2005).
State Supreme Court Mower decision protects medical marijuana patients (Jul 18, 2002).
