Note to the SCC March 20   

This morning Daniel Brubaker, DO reported that a chain called “Cannamedicine” had opened down the block. He took a photo of their banner, then did some quick research online. He says it’s a national operation with doctors’ offices in Massachusetts, Colorado and elsewhere.  Patients fill out their own histories online. “They seem to meet the minimum legal requirements,” he added.  

What follows is an excerpt from an article submitted to us by Dr. Brubaker. We need more straight talk about cannabis and the class thing. —FG

…I also wanted to identify patients with and without insurance, because it was my observation that many of the cannabis patients had no insurance and were relying on cannabis alone for help with their medical conditions. More than half had no insurance. The survey was completed before ObamaCare; however, I continue to see many patients without insurance.

Some of the patients, who didn’t have insurance, had medical problems such as hypertension that I could also treat.

The large number of those without insurance raises the question regarding socioeconomic status of patients using cannabis.

Nearly 75% of the patients using medical cannabis were poor, with an anuual income below $30,000.  Despite the different socioeconomic groups with and without insurance, three-quarters of the patients want a medical doctor and their expertise to be involved in the treatment process of their cannabis use. As a result, opening my practice up to cannabis patients allowed me to discover other medical problems such as undiscovered hypertension, prescribing Chantix® if the patients were smoking cigarettes, referring to specialists for rotator cuff tears, herniated discs with radiculopathies, labral tears, vors the use of medical because it was my observation that many of the cannabis patients had no insurance and were relying on cannabis alone for help with their medical conditions. More than half had no insurance. The survey was completed before Obama Care; however, I continue to see many patients without insurance.

Growing plants is not easy (hence not a weed)! Patients usually require a seemingly larger than necessary number of plants for several reasons. there could be many impotent male seeds, the patients use and method of consumption.  Edibles (baked goods, soups, butter, etc) require more processed materials than smoking would.  Many women prefer it as tea. The Hispanics and Asians use it in rubbing alcohol and some tell me they bathe in it. Usage is a factor in how many plants patients grow.