Dr. Bodo Schneider’s clinics in southern Illinois and suburban Chicago have brought in tons of medical marijuana patients thanks to the definite marijuana friendly atmosphere; the green slogan reads “WE’ED like to be your doctor!” Dr. Anthony Anzalone from New Jersey also has similar support at three of his clinics, each of which is marketed online with a marijuana logo and a “DrMarijuanaNJ” web address. The difference, though, is that these two doctors face different treatment by regulators although the two states have similar marijuana laws. This is a problem in all 23 states that have legalized medical marijuana: they are all regulated differently.
Illinois has been much more strict on the issue. Schneider, who used to be an emergency room doctor, might have his license taken away in a medical board case beginning on Tuesday. Blamed for recommending patients for medical marijuana without a legitimate reason, Schneider is the third Illinois physician to be punished in a medical marijuana case within the first month of sales.
“I understand why they don’t want everybody and their uncle opening up a marijuana stand,” Schneider’s attorney, Luke Baumstark, stated, “But I think the regulators have gone after a very high percentage of the people who have tried to use this law at all. It’s over-aggressive.”
New Jersey has not approached Anzalone, a gynecologist, or any of the other medical marijuana doctors for the last three years, Jeff Lamm, spokesman for the state’s Board of Medical Examiners, says.
“The state’s been very good to me,” Anzalone reported in an interview. “We’re complying with the law as best we can. … All I’m doing is the job other doctors don’t want to do.”
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