• California legalized the use of medical marijuana for certain diseases and pain relief.syringe-medical image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
  
  The state of California may provide leniency toward the use and possession of marijuana, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana laws. While California has enacted medical marijuana laws, this state does consequence citizens for possessing this drug outside of the medical marijuana community. This Compassionate Use Act passed in California refers to the use of marijuana only for illness and pain relief.
  
  

Medical Marijuana

• This program allows qualified patients to carry medical marijuana cards for the purpose of possessing legal marijuana in California, according to the California Department of Public Health. Diseases associated with medical marijuana use include glaucoma, movement disorders and cancer. The patient needs to have a medical marijuana card prescribed by a doctor in order to obtain marijuana legally in the state of California.
  
  

Decriminalization

• California has decriminalized marijuana, according to the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws. First-time possession of less than 28.5g of marijuana does not require an arrest. The most legal consequences a person may obtain is a $100 fine.
  
  

Possession

• Possession of more than 28.5g of marijuana results in a misdemeanor charge, a $500 fine and up to 6 months in jail. While possessing less than 28.5g of marijuana does not normally result in an arrest in California, if this occurs on school grounds then the offense results in up to 10 days in jail and a $500 fine.
  
  

Cultivation

• Due to the medical marijuana laws in California, patients and caregivers can cultivate marijuana. Sonoma County limits this cultivation to 99 plants, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Other counties regulate medical marijuana cultivation based on their laws. Any other cultivation results in a felony charge and 16 to 36 months in jail.
  
  

Sales and Gifts

• Providing a gift of less than 28.5g of marijuana results in a misdemeanor charge and a $100 fine. Selling any amount results in a felony charge and two to four years in jail. If marijuana gets sold to a minor older than 14, this results in a felony charge and three to five years in jail. If the minor is younger than 14, the jail time increases to three to seven years.
  
  

Minors

• If anyone younger than 21 commits the above crimes, the state reserves the right to suspend the driver's license for one year. The minor may also be subject to more severe punishments as determined by the juvenile court.