I'm not sure how it is in other states, but in California I'm being told that we have to carry the actual original recommendation with the embossed stamp, and that the card itself doesn't mean crap in the eyes of the law.

So far, the despensaries around here are also holding up to that standard too. You can't get in with just the card, even if you've already been there before. They won't let you in without the original recommendation.