[ladyknight]

June 2009:
Medical Marijuana Patients in National Parks:
Be Careful This Summer!

National beaches and parks, such as Yosemite, Point Reyes, Sequoia National Park, Ocean Beach and the Channel Islands Beaches, etc. are all considered federal property, despite the fact that these areas are within the physical boundaries of the state of California.

Because these places are deemed federal property, they are patrolled by federal agents that can and will bust anyone for possession of marijuana. This means that even if you are a valid California patient with an up-to-date recommendation from your doctor, you can and will still be cited for possession and have your medicine confiscated by federal law enforcement officers.

Federal law still categorizes marijuana as a Schedule I drug, with high potential for abuse and no proven medical value whatsoever. Possession of over 1 kg of marijuana with no prior convictions carries a sentence of six to twelve months with a possibility of probation and alternative sentencing. Over 2.5 kg with no criminal record carries a sentence of at least six months in jail; with prior convictions, a sentence might be between two to three years in jail with no chance for probation.