Pubdate: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 Source: Associated Press (Wire) Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Author: Associated Press OREGON DOCTOR UNDER SCRUTINY FOR APPROVING MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE Agrees To 90-Day Suspension PORTLAND, Ore. A doctor under scrutiny for approving medical marijuana use for hundreds of patients has agreed to a 90-day suspension of his license because he signed applications for patients he never examined. "This is harming my patients," said Dr. Phillip Leveque, who also agreed to pay a $5,000 fine. "This isn't harming me." Leveque, a 79-year-old osteopath, has signed about 40 percent of the 3,600 doctor-approved applications since Oregon's medical marijuana law took effect three years ago. Oregon's Medical Marijuana Act, approved by voters in 1998, allows residents to grow and use marijuana for medical purposes. A doctor must verify that the patient has a "debilitating medical condition" such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or severe pain. In its formal complaint against Leveque in February, the Board of Medical Examiners charged that he routinely signed applications without conducting the proper examination. Under the proposed disciplinary order, Leveque agreed to follow accepted standards of medical care when he resumes his practice Aug. 1. That includes examining patients face-to-face before signing their medical marijuana applications. The board still needs to discuss and ratify the order later this week. Leveque said he agreed to the order because he feared the possible revocation of his license if he did not. Leveque said he plans to use the 90 days to travel around the state, lobbying for the medical marijuana program and a proposed ballot measure that would ease access to the drug. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth