Four Colorado doctors have been suspended by the state Medical Board for allegedly approving some patients to grow or possess at least 75 marijuana plants, according to a Denver Post report. It is the first time the board has issued multiple suspensions at once over medical cannabis.
The state constitution allows medical marijuana patients to grow up to six plants, and does permit doctors to recommend higher counts if “medically necessary.”
Dr. Gentry Dunlop, of Aurora, is accused of authorizing 700 patients to grow 75 plants or more. Dr. Robert Maiocco, of Denver, allegedly made the same recommendations to about 190 patients. Dr. Deborah Parr, of Durango, is accused of making such recommendations to 300 patients, and Dr. William Stone, of Colorado Springs, made such recommendations to an estimated 400 patients.
The doctors are suspended “until the resolution of this matter,” according to the suspension orders.
Robert Corry, an attorney representing Dunlop and Maiocco, said neither of his clients were able to defend themselves prior to being suspended on Tuesday, saying their suspensions have “nothing to do with facts and nothing to do with the law.” He plans on asking for a hearing on the matter and could file a lawsuit.
Stone said the Medical Board didn’t ask for his patient records until after the suspension was handed down.
“It’s guilty until proven innocent,” he said in the report.
The Health Department will refer doctors to the Medical Board if they are found to have recommended increased plant counts for more than 30 percent of their medical cannabis patients. Just 477 of the state’s 91,597 medical marijuana program participants have recommendations for plant counts of 76 or more.
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