by Kevin Reed, The Green Cross (Jan. 10‚ 2007) -- The California Dept of Health Services has announced a major fee hike for the state medical marijuana ID cards, from $13 to $142. This is the state's share; counties charge an additional fee. On behalf of thousands of San Francisco cannabis patients I am writing to ask if you have heard about this new outrageous policy. Patients need your help NOW more than ever. With the new local laws requiring patients to get the State I.D. card to enter MCD's and now this drastic increase in the card program by almost $150, patients will need to pay $200 for an ID card every year. This has gone far beyond preposterous. Where are patient's rights? How can patients afford to keep fighting bad policy?

According to D. Gieringer of Cal NORML, the California Dept of Health Services has announced a major fee hike for the state medical marijuana ID cards, from $13 to $142. This is the state's share; counties charge an additional fee.

The increase is allegedly needed to cover the cost of the program, which has been running at a major deficit.

Applications for the state card have been running far behind expectations. So far only 5,631 cards have been issued. Estimates of the actual number of Prop 215 patients run from 150,000 to 350,000.

Only 23 of the state's 58 counties currently offer ID cards. Officials are hopeful that enrollment will take off once the San Diego lawsuit is settled and other, large counties come aboard, such as Los Angeles. However, the fee increase is likely to have the effect of discouraging new applicants.