This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on January 4, 2013.
Governor Snyder recently signed into law legislation that will alter requirements and standards for doctors when recommending medical marijuana to patients.
This week we had the opportunity to discuss these changes with Kumar Singh, DO, a Troy, MI physician that has specialized in medical marijuana consultations since the passage of the act and is a recognized leader throughout the State amongst those in the medical community. Doctor Singh has agreed to answer a few of our questions in order to better explain how these changes may impact you.
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Dr. Singh, how will your medical practice react to changes of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, specifically the standards of care?
GreenLite Clinic has always followed the Standards of Care that were set forth by the Michigan Board of Medicine. The Legislature merely adapted these Standards of Care as the new law. Therefore, GreenLite Clinic does not have to change anything with the passage of the new laws. Several other clinics in the area of Oakland County and Ann Arbor have never followed the Standards of Care, nor have they changed their practices with the recent passage of the new laws, placing Patients at a serious risk for arrest and prosecution.
Do you see these changes making it more difficult for a patient to get a recommendation?
Maybe for those with out a State issued identification. As long as a Patient has a State recognized Qualifying Condition, they will receive their Certification. Not much different in our practice.
Now that cards are good for 2 years, do you expect a decrease in business?
We do not care about huge profits, I make about half the money a Doctor with my level of training makes working at a hospital, but what we are worried about is that Patients will not be discussing their medical condition but once every two years. This is dangerous. I have Renewal Patients that voice complications to me all the time that need to be addressed. This does not prevent them from being renewed, but it gives me the opportunity to discuss their complication and resolve it. I think every patient should see their certification doctor at minimum once a year just to keep things safe. However, we cannot require that a patient returns but once every two years with the new law.
Are there any illnesses you would like to see added to the list of qualifying conditions?
Yes! I think anxiety should be added. Anxiety can be extremely debilitating. It can decrease a persons quality of life as much as severe and chronic pain. There are people with such bad anxiety that they cannot hold a job or even leave their house. What kind of life is this?
Do you have any other comments?
With the passage of the new laws, I would like to warn Patients that they need to check out their Doctor and Clinic before going to see them for a medical marihuana certification. Red Flags for Patients– (1) When a clinic refuses to provide you with the Doctors name (2) The Doctor will not show you his or her State Medical License ( Blue Form) if asked by the Patient. (3) If the Clinic the Doctor works at refuses to provide you with the Doctors Medical License number so that you cannot verify the Doctor through the State of Michigan website. (4) ANY Clinic/ Doctor that Certifies or Renews a Patient over the telephone or internet ( Even if you saw the Doctor in person in the past ) is violating the new laws and your Certification will provide you with NO protection in a Court of Law.
[pullquote cite=”Kumar Singh, DO” type=”left”]Kumar Singh, DO is a board certified physician and the medical director of the Green Lite Clinic in Troy, MI. He and his staff are available 7 days a week for consultations. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about his practice and the benefits of medical marijuana, call (855) DOC-CERT or visit him online at http://greenliteclinic.com[/pullquote]