Jacob Bell
New Member
State health-care regulators have opened a preliminary investigation into two medical professionals who were issuing medical-marijuana authorizations at Hempfest.
The investigation was initiated by the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday based on an Aug. 21 story in The Seattle Times, which described a reporter's ability to get a medical-marijuana authorization based on complaints of back pain.
Tim Church, a DOH spokesman, declined to name the two health-care professionals but said the state's naturopathic-advisory committee had opened a complaint. "It was opened as a result of media reports," he said.
After an initial investigation into the two individuals, DOH will decide whether to close the case or proceed with a fuller probe and possibly to a disciplinary hearing, Church said. "Anytime we see something that could be outside the scope of a medical professional's license, we take a look at it," he said.
The DOH has not taken action against a medical professional for authorizing medical marijuana in the 13-year history of the law allowing it. But the proliferation of specialty medical-cannabis clinics over the past two years has increased concern that patients are being authorized for conditions not in the state law.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com
Author: Jonathan Martin
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Seattle Times Company
Website: State investigates workers who OK'd medical marijuana at Hempfest
The investigation was initiated by the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday based on an Aug. 21 story in The Seattle Times, which described a reporter's ability to get a medical-marijuana authorization based on complaints of back pain.
Tim Church, a DOH spokesman, declined to name the two health-care professionals but said the state's naturopathic-advisory committee had opened a complaint. "It was opened as a result of media reports," he said.
After an initial investigation into the two individuals, DOH will decide whether to close the case or proceed with a fuller probe and possibly to a disciplinary hearing, Church said. "Anytime we see something that could be outside the scope of a medical professional's license, we take a look at it," he said.
The DOH has not taken action against a medical professional for authorizing medical marijuana in the 13-year history of the law allowing it. But the proliferation of specialty medical-cannabis clinics over the past two years has increased concern that patients are being authorized for conditions not in the state law.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com
Author: Jonathan Martin
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Seattle Times Company
Website: State investigates workers who OK'd medical marijuana at Hempfest
