Pubdate: Fri, 05 Dec 2014
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/5QwXAJWY
Website: http://www.suntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81
Author: Becky Schlikerman
Page: 9

GROUP: SOME DOCTORS NOT RECOMMENDING PATIENTS FOR POT PROGRAM

Mary Baran suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and wants to legally use 
medical marijuana, but she said her doctor won't recommend her for the program.

She's not alone, according to marijuana advocacy group NORML Illinois.

"We've heard from a lot of patients that they just can't get their 
doctors to write recommendations," said the group's Executive 
Director Dan Linn. People who apply to use medical marijuana must 
have their doctor's approval before the state will grant the user license.

Patient application numbers released by the state show people are not 
completing the application process.

About 11,000 people have registered to begin the application process 
to be granted a medical marijuana user license, according to state 
spokeswoman Melaney Arnold. But of those, only 1,600 have submitted 
at least part of the application, which includes a sign-off from a 
treating doctor. Just 600 people have been approved, Arnold said.

Officials with NORML believe part of problem is that doctors aren't 
willing to sign the state-required recommendation document, stalling 
patients seeking to register.

"You have patients trying to talk to their doctors about medical 
cannabis, and the doctors are even refusing to engage in the 
conversation," Linn said.

Baran isn't among those who have begun the application process, which 
costs up to $ 100.

"I already knew my current doctors . . . weren't going to sign up on 
it and I was like, ' Why bother?' " the 49- year-old from Glen Ellyn said.

She switched doctors and now has to wait to establish a bona fide 
relationship before she can qualify to apply.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom