Pubdate: Wed, 23 Mar 2011
Source: Gaylord Herald Times (MI)
Copyright: 2011 Gaylord Herald Times
Contact: http://www.petoskeynews.net/forms/lettertotheeditor.html
Website: http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4464
Author: Chris Engle, HT Staff Writer
Referenced: Medical Marihuana Act http://drugsense.org/url/8mvr7sW8
Bookmark: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/geoview/n-us-mi (Michigan)

MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC FRIDAY

How Does It Work?

GAYLORD - Dr. Robert "Bob" Townsend, DO, said about 95 percent of the 
prospective medical marijuana patients he sees at his traveling 
clinics have past experience with cannabis or currently use it.

After the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act passed in 2008, Townsend 
realized people who were managing their pain or other aliments 
through the illegal use of cannabis had been granted a means to do so 
legally. His goal is to make sure they do it right and follow a 
legitimate process.

"My average patient is a middle-aged, blue-collar worker with a bad 
back who has been using (marijuana) for 15 years illegally, has 
gotten some relief and wants to do it legally," he said.

For Townsend, who holds upwards of 25 clinics monthly throughout the 
state, being legitimate in his practice means he follows three steps: 
Verify patients' qualifying conditions through records; determine if 
medical marijuana is the right course of action; and follow up with 
his patients by phone or e-mail. He compares the process to that 
adhered to by any other physician.

"When you go to the doctor there's certain things you're going to 
expect. He will make a recommendation based on evidence of what is 
best, then follow up with them," he said. "That's the way I do it and 
that's the way medicine dictates it be done."

Before seeing a patient, Townsend insists he or she provide medical 
records as evidence they have a qualifying condition (see story 
below). By doing so, he not only determines whether the person can be 
a legal marijuana patient but also decides whether marijuana will 
help them. Should the legitimacy of a patient's medical marijuana 
certification ever come into question, he will have copies of the 
patient's records to support his recommendation and the patient's 
qualifications.

Townsend referred to clinics that do not require patient records as 
"signature mills," where patients are "basically purchasing a 
signature." He said the affidavits patients receive from these 
clinics will not hold up should the cardholder be questioned in a 
court of law and only serve to protect the doctor and his/her clinic.

Once Townsend determines marijuana will help a patient, he writes his 
certification and refers the patient to a local compassionate care 
club to either find a care provider to grow their medicine or learn 
how to do it themselves.

He also recommends certain strains of marijuana - which have varying 
levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other active compounds - to 
treat specific aliments. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound determined 
to decrease inflammation and treat pain.

Finally, he provides patients with his personal phone number so they 
can call him anytime with questions. "That again is part of the 
education process," he said. "It's ongoing."

After receiving their certification, patients must submit their 
paperwork to the Department of Community Health to receive their card.

Townsend is holding a clinic Friday, March 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 
Alpine Lodge in Gaylord. Call 989-619-6312 for an appointment. For 
more information about Dr. Townsend visit www.drbobmmj.com.

[sidebar]

WHAT CONDITIONS QUALIFY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA?

Medical marijuana patients must suffer from a debilitating medical 
condition, defined by the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2008 as:

Cancer, glaucoma, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C, 
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn's disease, agitation of 
Alzheimer's disease or nail patella.

A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its 
treatment that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or 
wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures 
(including but not limited to those caused by epilepsy), severe or 
persistent muscle spasms (including but not limited to those 
characteristic of multiple sclerosis), or any other medical condition 
adopted by the Michigan Department of Community Heath (none added yet).  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake