A Whitefish doctor spoke to Montana's News Station for the first time since the Montana Board of Medical Examiners fined her $2,000 for prescribing medical marijuana.
Dr. Pat Cole found out about the decision two weeks ago, when the Board determined that she broke Montana guidelines by seeing more than 150 patients within a 14 hour time period.
Cole told us the time period for which she received the fine was during a series of medical marijuana clinics, which are legal in Montana.
She says it's hard to determine what is and isn't legal when the law is so vague, but added that she understands that the Board is making her an example.
"Those clinics were an amazing experience for me. People who had been essentially thrown out of their primary care offices when they dared to ask if someone would recommend it for them," Cole said. "So, I know that we were helpful. However...there need to be guidelines."
Cole added that she spent more time with the patients than the state reported and also reviewed each patient's medical records through an extensive on-line network. That way, when she met with them, she said the process went quicker.
Cole and the Board of Medical Examiners agreed that she will no longer attend the medical marijuana clinics, but can still diagnose through her private practice.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: KRTV.com
Copyright: 2010 KRTV.com
Dr. Pat Cole found out about the decision two weeks ago, when the Board determined that she broke Montana guidelines by seeing more than 150 patients within a 14 hour time period.
Cole told us the time period for which she received the fine was during a series of medical marijuana clinics, which are legal in Montana.
She says it's hard to determine what is and isn't legal when the law is so vague, but added that she understands that the Board is making her an example.
"Those clinics were an amazing experience for me. People who had been essentially thrown out of their primary care offices when they dared to ask if someone would recommend it for them," Cole said. "So, I know that we were helpful. However...there need to be guidelines."
Cole added that she spent more time with the patients than the state reported and also reviewed each patient's medical records through an extensive on-line network. That way, when she met with them, she said the process went quicker.
Cole and the Board of Medical Examiners agreed that she will no longer attend the medical marijuana clinics, but can still diagnose through her private practice.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: KRTV.com
Copyright: 2010 KRTV.com
