SB- 109 Regulation of Physician-Patient Relationship for Medical Marijuana Patients

Last week, the Senate passed Senate Bill 109, to modify medical marijuana dispensary practices and try to align the current marijuana statutes with the state constitution. This bill regulates the practices of physicians in authorizing individuals for medical marijuana. Physicians are required to have an authentic relationship with their patients, possess a record-keeping system for all qualified patients, provide post-care treatment after prescribing medical marijuana, and must have a doctorate of medicine from an accredited medical school. Physicians are prohibited from accepting payment from medical marijuana dispensaries and cannot give a discount for using a particular dispensary. Additionally, Senate Bill 109 increases the qualification requirements for access to medical marijuana by creating a review board, which determines if those under the age of 21 are eligible to register.
This bill is a step in the right direction for controlling the marijuana mess that has gripped Colorado. However, while Senate Bill 109 brings much-needed regulation to the doctor patient relationship, it did not confront the broader range of much needed marijuana regulation that will help to end the flagrant abuse of the Colorado law. Stay tuned…