# Medical marijuana and interstate prescriptions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana-and-interstate-prescriptions/481323>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 14, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana-and-interstate-prescriptions/481323 "2009-01-14T20:58:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f1d935/32.png) [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana-and-interstate-prescriptions/481323/1 "2009-01-14T20:58:15Z")

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If I go to, say, Michigan or California, or some other state with legalized medical marijuana, and I am not a citizen of that state, can I still get a prescription? Assuming I can, and I have it filled within the state, is it a felony to transport the marijuana across state lines? If medical marijuana is not legal in my state, am I still committing a crime (federal, or local to my state) if I have a valid prescription from a state where it is legal?

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**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana-and-interstate-prescriptions/481323/2 "2009-01-15T07:50:38Z")

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Just a slight nitpick, in California the doctor is writing a recommendation, not a prescription. I suspect the same holds true in Michigan as well.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana-and-interstate-prescriptions/481323/3 "2009-01-15T08:16:03Z")

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It doesn’t matter what state you’re in or from – you’d be committing a federal crime.

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**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana-and-interstate-prescriptions/481323/4 "2009-01-15T12:14:17Z")

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It’s always a federal crime. Two states just won’t actively cooperate with the federal government on prosecuting you. Until it’s not a federal crime it is always a criminal offense to have the drug regardless of state laws.

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**Author:** ![Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f1d935/32.png) [@Dilton\_Doiley\_Philosopher\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilton_Doiley_Philosopher_King)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-marijuana-and-interstate-prescriptions/481323/5 "2009-01-15T15:52:30Z")

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Makes sense that its still a federal crime. As a citizen of another state, can I go to those states and get medical marijuana?