In that state of California, patients can receive a recommendation by a doctor to try medical marijuana for many different conditions.   Everything from chronic insomnia to chronic pain will legally qualify a patient.     The one formality that the state medical board requires doctors to do PRIOR to recommending marijuana is verify the [...]

For many patients speaking to a doctor about using medical marijuana causes a lot of anxiety.   Many patients have said to me “I fell like I am doing something wrong” or “I am so nervous about being here”.    There are many doctors who will recommend medical marijuana but not all “are created equal”. [...]

As cities try to come up with a standard ordinance that regulates how medical marijuana dispensaries operate the same questions comes up every time: Should dispensaries be taxed over and above what they would normally pay?

I emphatically say NO. READ ON…

I find it interesting that the US Government classifies marijuana as schedule 1; no medicinal value and highly addictive. Yet they own the patent for using cannabinoids as a antioxidant and neuro-protectant.

Yes you are reading this correctly: THE US GOVT. HAS PATENTED MEDICAL MARIJUANA. #6630507

LOOK IT UP AT THIS LINK: http://www.google.com/patents?id=0pcNAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The hypocrisy is hysterical. Why would the Government want to own a patent on a drug that has no medicinal value, is highly addictive and toxic?? READ ON:

After testifying in court yesterday for a patient of mine arrested for cultivation in San Diego I can not stress enough the importance of working with a medical clinic that demands medical records. The first thing the court did when they arrested him was to subpoena his medical file. The judge wanted to make sure that he was a legitimate patient. The great news for my patient was that we had HIS ENTIRE MEDICAL history intact. Everything was done according to the letter of the law.

To all my amazing patients: this is just a friendly reminder that if you are not going to be able to make your appointment to PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE AND LET US KNOW. We understand that things come up and your schedule changes but by letting us know aren’t going to make it we can book another patient for your time slot. It really helps our office and staff to get that call!

I just got off the phone with an attorney who is representing one of my patients where local law enforcement raided his property where he was cultivating for personal use with one other patient and is being charged a bunch of crimes. She was pretty shocked about how willing I was to come down to San Diego and testify on his behalf. I told her it was a no-brainer. I have all the documentation including his medical records and can easily explain to the court why he qualifies as a legal patient. I asked her if she has had any issues with doctors coming to testify on behalf of her clients and she replied “the last case I had the doctor REFUSED to come and testify and when we ultimately sent him a subpoena he said he had medical issues and COULD NOT COME TO COURT”

Fortunately, in 1996, California voters passed an incredible proposition ( 215) allowing doctors to recommend cannabis to their patients and for patients in California to use cannabis medicinally. Unfortunately they passed what may be the most ridiculous and difficult to understand guidelines for collectives/dispensaries to provide patients their medicine.