Approval Rate For Arizona's Marijuana Cards Raises Eybrows

[bobandtorey]

KINGMAN, Ariz. - To say Arizona is handing out medical marijuana cards like candy might be overly generous to candy distributors.

Statistics from the Arizona Department of Health Services show better than 99 percent of those who applied were approved for the cards during the first year of the voter-approved program, which is still being implemented.

Of the almost 26,000 applications that were processed from mid-April 2011 to April 5 of this year, only 113 were rejected.

Agency Director Will Humble said his department has no authority over the applications, which are handled by the medical community.

Humble said that doctors are required to fully assess the medical needs of applicants, keep their medical records on file and explain the pros and cons of marijuana use. He said doctors who fail to meet the card-issuing protocols can be subject to professional sanction.

"The ticket into the system, the ticket to get a card really lies with the physician's certification," he said, adding that the state tracks card approval trends for evidence of abuse.

"We found a dozen or so physicians that we believed were acting unprofessionally, or maybe acting unprofessionally, and have referred them to their licensing boards," Humble said.

The high approval rate for marijuana card applications has not escaped the attention of Kingman Police Chief Bob Devries.

"We've noticed ... advertisements and different groups that have come in not just from Arizona, but from other states, that have been essentially guaranteeing cards upon payment of a $150 fee," Devries said.

In northwest Arizona, 428 cards were issued to Kingman residents, 418 to Lake Havasu City residents and 264 to residents of Bullhead City residents in the first year of application.

Statewide, statistics show that nearly 74 percent of the applications in the first year came from men of all age groups.

"It started off in the first six months that we had a higher percentage of baby boomers. That was our dominant demographic group for the first six months," Humble said. "It's kind of leveled out after that, and I think our median and mean age now is in the 40s."

In their quest for cards, Arizona applicants have reported medical conditions from cancer and glaucoma to hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. But more than 88 percent of applicants have filed under the catch-all condition of chronic pain.

"There's no doubt that severe and chronic pain is the Trojan horse," Humble said. "It's the weak point in the law in terms of keeping this thing medical. There's nothing I can do about that. It was in the voter language."

 

http://www.lvrj.com/...95.html?ref=095

[bobandtorey]

why are the letters so small

[bobandtorey]

it has only just begun for them

[Dr. Bob]

A huge percentage of my patients are chronic pain patients. This reflects many factors. Chronic pain is VERY common, folks are sick of vicodin and oxy, marijuana is very effective for chronic pain, and many folks seek medical assistance with chronic pain so they have the necessary records. That is the short answer.

 

The big picture answer tells me I am not reaching the cancer patients, the crohns patients, the HIV patients, and the other patient groups that could benefit from marijuana. I will work on that, and patients should too. One of the best sources of referral I get are from the patients I've seen. Everyone that gets a card knows a couple of other patients that need one. Help me get the word out to the HIV, Crohn's, Cancer, and other communities. The more that are certified, the safer the marijuana community is overall.

 

The further big picture is that unless we reach these groups, the general public will begin to think of marijuana as JUST being for chronic pain, and that narrows the effort we are making to return marijuana to regular medical practice.

 

Dr. Bob

[Fat Freddy]

A huge percentage of my patients are chronic pain patients. This reflects many factors. Chronic pain is VERY common, folks are sick of vicodin and oxy, marijuana is very effective for chronic pain, and many folks seek medical assistance with chronic pain so they have the necessary records. That is the short answer.

 

The big picture answer tells me I am not reaching the cancer patients, the crohns patients, the HIV patients, and the other patient groups that could benefit from marijuana. I will work on that, and patients should too. One of the best sources of referral I get are from the patients I've seen. Everyone that gets a card knows a couple of other patients that need one. Help me get the word out to the HIV, Crohn's, Cancer, and other communities. The more that are certified, the safer the marijuana community is overall.

 

The further big picture is that unless we reach these groups, the general public will begin to think of marijuana as JUST being for chronic pain, and that narrows the effort we are making to return marijuana to regular medical practice.

 

Dr. Bob

 

I agree whole heartily Dr Bob. Some many people can be helped by Gods gift to man.

 

I know of several people and have spoken to them, sadly some of them are so entrenched in prescription medications they will not listen. Others are still in the labor market and do not want to risk their jobs. But I am still talking to people and moving forward.

[CleanD]

Doc...

 

I know this person that has a RN in the family that works w hospice patients... Any chance you could work to maybe have the added for assistance?

 

Seems they are very interested in potential benefits mmj may offer. My heart only goes out to em.

[Dr. Bob]

Doc...

 

I know this person that has a RN in the family that works w hospice patients... Any chance you could work to maybe have the added for assistance?

 

Seems they are very interested in potential benefits mmj may offer. My heart only goes out to em.

 

In a heartbeat. I pm'ed my number to you. First step is to educate the staff and I'll arrange to meet with them if possible.

 

Dr. Bob

[Shredder]

These articles are not journalism, but rather propaganda. The position of those interviewed is pre-ordained, and not based on facts, just opinions, and not the opinions of voters. They don't interview avocates or actual doctors who prescribe, but they do interview those in the opposition. Their conclutions are not factual, but personal opinions, and the authors of his propaganda need to be held accountable. You don't read about the terminal cancer patient who gained weight or the epileptic whose seizures were abated. The journalists need to be held accountable when they present biased information, otherwise ir's just another republican screw you party.........shredder