Pubdate: Sun, 25 Aug 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Eric Gorski

TAKING PLANT COUNTS INTO ACCOUNT

Law Enforcement, Some Doctors Say Large Quantities Given to Patients 
Invite Abuse

The offers are common in ads for medical marijuana evaluations: 
"Highest counts, lowest prices," "Highest edible counts."

The "counts" refer to the number of marijuana plants recommended by 
doctors. Colorado's constitution sets six plants per patient as the 
standard but allows for more if medically necessary.

Law enforcement and some medical marijuana doctors say high plant 
counts invite abuse. But only now, after a critical state audit, are 
state health officials taking a closer look at the practice, 
including tracking data on how widespread it is and asking doctors to 
explain themselves.

Dr. Michael Camarata, the focus of a Colorado Medical Board 
investigation that led to restrictions on his license, regularly 
recommended 72 plants per patient, said Thornton police Sgt. Jim 
Gerhardt, who is on a regional drug task force.

Camarata did not respond to requests for comment.

"If someone had a recommendation for 60 or 70 plants, there is only 
one reason they are doing that, and that is to sell it on the black 
market and sell it out of this state," said Dr. Wendy Zaharko of 
Aspen, who has developed a medical marijuana specialty on the Western Slope.

There's widespread consensus that more plants are needed to consume 
marijuana through edible products, such as cookies and brownies, and 
tinctures, which are alcohol extractions of whole cannabis.

But Ron Hyman, who oversees the patient registry for the Colorado 
Department of Public Health and Environment, and others say medical 
literature lacks good guidance on appropriate plant counts, making it 
difficult for doctors and regulators.

Patients with larger plant counts can grow more of their own or give 
the responsibility to a caregiver or dispensary, resulting in larger 
grow operations.

The state audit, released last month, flagged "extremely high plant 
counts" from some doctors. One doctor recommended 501 plants for one 
patient. Auditors also questioned the practice of clinics charging 
more for exams resulting in higher plant counts for patients.

Denver clinic Cannaqual charges $75 for new patients and $50 for 
renewals, said its marketing director, Connor Dunlop. Higher plant 
counts start at $150, and Dunlop said the "upcharge" is justified 
because of a guarantee he would not detail.

"We try to keep it on the quality side rather than the quantity," 
Dunlop said. "We try to stay afloat, but not get greedy."

Hyman said doctors are asked on certification forms whether they are 
recommending higher counts. He said the health department is building 
a data set to track the practice. In response to the audit, it also 
will start asking doctors to explain higher counts.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom