^The card is optional, it is not required and many counties don't even offer it. You are also incorrect that you would see a potdoc after getting the recommendation, you only see a pot doctor if your primary will not write the recommendation. Legally, all you need is the recommendation from a doctor, that is it, you don't need any special card or anything else. How you go about getting that recommendation depends on your situation. Due to the controversy surrounding medical marijuana, many doctors are either ill-informed on marijuana as a drug, or just are flat out against it and will not write the recommendation. In these cases, a pot doctor would be useful, a pot doctor has a higher chance of writing you the recommendation you need to be legal because pot doctors are pot friendly doctors that understand the drug more than the average doctor may know.

To make things a little more confusing, some pot doctors issue their own ID cards, but these serve no legal purpose and most co-ops still want to see your written recommendation. As for the government issued cards, even if my county offered them I wouldn't care for one because I too don't trust the government with my information, and it really doesn't make any sense why the government needs to put me on a special list for my healthcare which is really nobody's business other than myself and my doctor!

I understand many people find comfort and security in these optional cards, but personally I see it as a form of discrimination. Why should I need to carry some special card because of a health condition I have? Under a fascist government this information could be dangerous, I will have no part in it!