UPDATE: The Telehealth provision was removed from HB 1896. Great work, CannaFam!
Hundreds of Missourians have been approved for medical marijuana use by a doctor online through a telehealth appointment. But the future of MMJ telehealth is now in jeopardy, thanks in part to Rep. Dr. John Patterson, a republican from Lee’s Summit.
If Dr. Patterson is successful, patients seeking a doctor’s approval to buy medical marijuana may be required to visit in person, completely eliminating the option of video-chatting with a doctor through Skype, FaceTime, or similar platform. Dr. Patterson argues banning telehealth would “increase patient safety” and provide a way to crack down on out-of-state and international "bad actors" peddling certifications with no accountability.
Earlier this week, Dr. Patterson told media:
The medical marijuana constitutional amendment explicitly states that the patient “has the right to use medical marijuana for treatment under the supervision of a physician.”
I believe that a phone survey with a physician that the patient has never met does not meet that provision of Amendment 2.
All we are trying to do with my bill is ensure that patients have safe access to medical marijuana by being evaluated by a physician in-person and undergoing a physical examination prior to certification.
Rep. Dr. John Patterson, pictured above, seeks to put an end to MMJ certifications done over telehealth
What Dr. Patterson fails to realize is the validity and commonness of telehealth. In 2013, the American Hospital Association reported that 52 percent of hospitals utilized telehealth, and another 10 percent were beginning the process of implementing telehealth services. Doctors can diagnose, treat, counsel, and prescribe medication to patients without physically being in the same room. Why should it be any different with marijuana?
Dr. Patterson’s bill would also inadvertently limit disabled, rural and elderly patients from being able to get their medicine. Not everyone lives in Kansas City or St. Louis, and can readily access a medical marijuana doctor. Eliminating telehealth would leave thousands of Missourians behind, and require them to drive hundreds of miles to get a medical marijuana card.
Several states have banned marijuana telemedicine, such as Colorado, Arkansas, Illinois, Washington and Florida. Other states allow it, including California, New York, Oklahoma and Nevada. Hopefully Missouri follows in the footsteps of the latter four.
Our friends and advocates at NORML KC released the following statement about the matter:
NORML KC does not support HB 1896 with the added amendment by Rep. Patterson which would remove the option of telehealth visits for patients seeking medical marijuana certification. We believe this is unconstitutional because it creates an undue burden on patients accessing the medical marijuana program. Article XIV explicitly prohibits the legislator or DHSS from enacting any laws that would cause an undue burden on patients.
There’s power in numbers, stoners. Call your local representative and advocate for yourself and fellow patients by encouraging them to vote NO on HB 1896. To find their contact information, click here.
Want to get your medical marijuana card? Schedule an appointment today!