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member have a doctor’s letter recommending marijuana as part of
his or her therapy and an unexpired photo identification card
from the California Department of Public Health verifying the
authenticity of the doctor’s letter. Petitioner required that
its members not resell or redistribute the medical marijuana
received from petitioner, and petitioner considered any violation
of this requirement to be grounds to expel the violator from
membership in petitioner’s organization.
Each of petitioner’s members paid petitioner a membership
fee in consideration for the right to receive caregiving services
and medical marijuana from petitioner. Petitioner’s caregiving
services were extensive. First, petitioner’s staff held various
weekly or biweekly support group sessions that could be attended
only by petitioner’s members. The “wellness group” discussed
healing techniques and occasionally hosted a guest speaker; the
HIV/AIDS group addressed issues of practical and emotional
support; the women’s group focused on women-specific issues in
medical struggles; the “Phoenix” group helped elderly patients
with lifelong addiction problems; the “Force” group focused on
spiritual and emotional development. Second, petitioner provided
its low-income members with daily lunches consisting of salads,
fruit, water, soda, and hot food. Petitioner also made available
to its members hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste,
feminine hygiene products, combs, and bottles of bleach. Third,
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Last modified: November 10, 2007