doctor

Massachusetts Physicians Tied to Medical Marijuana Claim to be Targeted by DEA

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Some Massachusetts physicians are claiming that federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have threatened to revoke licenses to prescribe drugs unless they sever all ties with marijuana firms.

The reports have started to surface following the recent measure passed by the House of Representatives that would defund DEA raids on medical marijuana dispensaries. Under state law, the use of marijuana for medical purposes is legal; however under federal law, any use of marijuana is illegal.

According to the Boston Globe and MassLive.com, several physicians have been told that if they continue to serve in advisory capacity for medical cannabis dispensaries, they will lose their DEA license to prescribe certain controlled substances. In November 2012, Massachusetts voters agreed to allow doctors to serve in advisory positions with dispensaries. Physicians, whose livelihoods depend on having the ability to prescribe pain medications and other drugs, claim that they have been forced to sever ties with medical marijuana companies, where some held prominent positions.

The Boston Globe reported that DEA agents visited at least three physicians’ homes or offices, giving them an ultimatum. Dr. Samuel Mazza said that a DEA investigator contacted him with an ultimatum. Dr. Mazza, chief executive of Debilitating Medical Conditions Treatment Centers, which won preliminary state approval to open a dispensary, said the investigator visited shortly after state regulators announced the first twenty applicants approved for provisional licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries. Dr. Mazza ultimately gave up his prescription license since he didn’t really need it; however two other physicians contacted by the DEA have already resigned their positions with medical marijuana organizations as a result.

Healthcare professionals who prescribe or administer narcotics and other controlled substances must register with the DEA for tracking purposes. The tension between federal and state officials have increased as 22 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of medical marijuana.

The DEA’s actions raised concerns for many of the individuals in the medical marijuana industry. Many say that it could further delay the state Department of Public Health’s licensing process and could scare many individuals in the medical community.

Last updated: 6/10/14; 2:55pm EST

 

Cuomo

Gov Cuomo Willing to Sign Medical Cannabis Bill with Proper Regulation

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New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he is willing to sign medical marijuana legislation into law as long as it “makes sense.”

The New York legislature enters the final two weeks of the session before facing re-election this fall. In January, Cuomo unveiled his plan to authorize up to 20 hospitals to distribute medical cannabis for research purposes. However, heading into the last two weeks of New York’s legislative session, one of the major questions is whether Cuomo will vote on the medical marijuana bill, known as the Compassionate Care Act.

Last month it cleared a hurdle by passing the Republican-led Senate health committee. However, it still has to pass the finance committee prior to being brought to the floor to vote on. On Friday, the Compassionate Care Act was modified for the third time. Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) have been pushing for the Legislature to agree to a medical cannabis bill that can be passed this session.

Cuomo said that he supports the overall effort, so if the legislation makes sense, he would sign it. The amended Compassionate Care Act modifies conditions that qualify for medical marijuana, eliminating psoriasis but keeping conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, HIV and Parkinson’s disease and adding Huntington’s disease. The bill would legalize cannabis for treatment of up to 20 illnesses. Additional changes are expected to address concerns by establishing rules to prevent medical cannabis from being marketed to teenagers, banning patients under21 from smoking marijuana and baking the drug into goods, adding to sodas or other products. Minors in the medical marijuana program would be limited to oils, edibles and tinctures.

However, Senate Finance Committee chair John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse) told several reporters that he would try to block the bill in his committee. If DeFrancisco is successful, the bill would never make it to Cuomo’s desk.