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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom