Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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5.16 Organized Crime and Vice Control: Operations
5.16.15 California Medical Marijuana Program (MMP) (Revised: 7/18/18)
A. Purpose
The purpose of this order is to establish law enforcement guidelines pertaining to the
California Medical Marijuana Program (MMP).
B. Background
1. In 1996, Proposition 215 was passed by California voters legalizing the personal
possession of marijuana for medical purposes if prescribed by a medical doctor.
The Senate Bill SB 420 was filed i nto legislation in Chapter 875 on October 12,
2003.
2. Medical use of marijuana means the production, possession, delivery, or
administration of marijuana, or paraphernalia used to administer marijuana, as
necessary for the exclusive benefit of a person to mitigate the symptoms or effects
of his or her debilitating medical condition.
3. A “designated primary caregiver” is defined as an individual eighteen years of age
or older who has significant responsibility for managing the wellbeing of a person
who has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and who is
designated as such on that person’s application for a registry identification card or
in other written notification to the California Department of Health Services.
“Designated primary caregiver” does not include the person’s attending physician.
4. A registry identification card is a document issued by the Califor nia Department
of Public Health that identifies a person authorized to engage in the medical use
of marijuana and th e person’s designated primary caregiver, if any.
5. Persons who have in their possession a valid MMP card may possess less than one
ounce of usable marijuana, three mature plants and four immature plants. Usable
marijuana is defined as dried leaves and fl owers of the plant Cannabis family
Moraceae, and any mixture or preparation thereof, that are appropriate for
medical use as allowed in the MMP.
6. Usable marijuana does not include seeds, stalks and roots of the plant. A
marijuana plant shall be consider ed mature when male or female flower buds are
readily observed on the plant by unaided visual examination. Until this sexual
differentiation has taken place, a marijuana plant will be considered immature.
7. No person authorized to possess, deliver or pro duce marijuana for medical use
pursuant to MMP shall be exempted from the criminal laws of the State of
California or shall be deemed to have established an affirmative defense to
criminal charges of which possession, delivery or production of marijuana is an
element if the person, in connection with the facts giving rise to such charges:
a. Drives under the influence of marijuana as provided in CVC 23152
(a);
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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b. Engages in the medical use of marijuana in a public place or in public
view or in a correctional facility or youth correction facility;
c. Delivers marijuana to any individual who the person knows in not in
possession of a registry identification card;
d. Delivers marijuana for consideration to any individual, even if the
individual is in possession of a registry identification card;
e. Manufactures or produces marijuana at a place other than one address for
property under the control of the patient and one address for property
under the control of the primary caregiver of the patient that have been
provided to the Health Division; or
f. Manufactures or produces marijuana at more than one address.
8. A person who has applied for a registry identification c ard pursuant to MMP, but
whose application has not yet been approved or denied, and who is contacted by
any law enforcement officer in connection with his or her administration,
possession, delivery or production of marijuana for medical use may provide to
the law enforcement officer a copy of the written documentation submitted to the
Health Division pursuant to MMP application procedures and proof of the date of
mailing or other transmission of the documentation to the Health Division. This
documentation shall have the same legal effect as a registry identification card
until such time as the person receives notification that the application has been
approved or denied.
9. Recreational marijuana is now legal in California, but it is still prohibited at th e
University of California . The University of California prohibits the use,
possession and sale of marijuana − in any form − on all university property,
including university -owned and -leased buildings, housing and parking lots.
Marijuana is also not permitted at university events or while conducting
university business. Refer to Addend a 5B − UCnet Article on Marijuana Use on
UC Property and 5C − UCOP Marijuana and Drug Use Policy f or details.