Thousands Of CO Marijuana Applications On Hold
Some 4,200 medical marijuana applications in Colorado are on hold at the state health department while investigators look into possible fraud pertaining to doctor’s exams.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Friday that marijuana registry applications from certain physicians are on hold after law enforcement witnessed potential patients being seen by someone other than a physician.
One of the physicians being reviewed is Dr. Frank Wright, of the Trinity Healthcare Center in west Colorado Springs.
In a recent interview with our news partners at the Colorado Springs Independent, Wright was candid about the investigation, admitting that about 1,600 of the MMJ exams being reviewed were performed at his center.
Wright tells the Independent that he has done nothing wrong, citing a statute in Colorado that allows physicians to delegate certain medical tasks to their licensed assistants as they see fit.
Colorado’s marijuana amendment requires a “bona fide” doctor-patient relationship before a physician can recommend MMJ for certain ailments.
In 2010, state lawmakers tightened the requirement to state that a physician must perform a personal physical examination, keep records of the visit and offer follow-up care. Lawmakers were concerned about possible fraudulent recommendations.
The health department said Friday that the applicants on hold would receive an answer by the end of January.
You can read Dr. Wright’s explanation in more detail here at the Colorado Springs Indy.com.
