What kind of punishment will I be facing if I am charged with possession of marijuana, but I have a medicinal marijuana card?

If you are charged with a California state crime of possession of marijuana and you had a valid prescription from a doctor at the time you were cited or arrested for possession, your case should be dismissed. California state law allows you to possess marijuana provided you have a medical marijuana card at the time. Federal law still makes possession of marijuana a crime, but state law does not.