cannabisnews.com: Pot Doctor's License In Jeopardy Pot Doctor's License In Jeopardy Posted by CN Staff on July 11, 2003 at 18:05:59 PT News Story Source: ABC7 The fate of an outspoken doctor who prescribes medical marijuana to patients won't be known for a few weeks. The state medical board is trying to strip Dr. Tod Mikuriya of his license to practice medicine, but they're saying it's the way he practices medicine that's at issue. Dr. Tod Mikuriya wore a lab coat adorned with a marijuana leaf caduceus as he faced the people trying to take away his license to practice medicine. Dr. Tod Mikuriya, Medical Marijuana Advocate: "Well they are just really illegitimate, and I'm not guilty of any of the allegations that they've made." The Medical Board of California is not saying the problem is Dr. Mikuriya prescribes medical marijuana, but that he delivers substandard care. Dr. Tod Mikuriya, Medical Marijuana Advocate: "I've done good faith examinations in every case, and do follow up examinations, and so the accusations that they are making are entirely wrong." Ed Rosenthal, Medical Marijuana Advocate: "No patients have filed charges, none of their loved ones, nobody associated with the patients. It's only by law enforcement who have not been able to arrest people they wanted to arrest." Pepples Trippet, Medical Marijuana Patient: "They're attacking the anchor of the cannabis patient community. They're going after someone who has been outspoken for decades." All of this is happening just as the U.S. Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to allow federal authorities to punish California doctors who recommend medical marijuana to their patients. Dr. Tod Mikuriya, Medical Marijuana Advocate: "This is more of a holy war. We talk about Jihads, well what about the Ashcroftian Jihad and the DEA buzzing around and creating trouble." This focus on physicians is having a chilling effect on many doctors considering recommending medical marijuana. Dr. Frank Lucido, Family Physician: "There are thousands of doctors who have recommended it. Usually it's for one or two patients, a few patients of their own, and these doctors are becoming afraid of helping seriously ill Californians that they've known. They know their illnesses and their pain." A decision in Dr. Mikuriya's case is expected in about three weeks. Source: ABC7 - KGO-TV (CA)Published: Friday, July 11, 2003Copyright:2003 ABC Inc., KGO-TV Inc.Website: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/Contact: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/aboutus/email_form.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.http://www.mikuriya.com/Marijuana Specialist Defends His Practicehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16156.shtmlCounty Sued Over Marijuana Program http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15613.shtmlDoctors Without Ordershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15398.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by afterburner on July 16, 2003 at 14:02:07 PT: More Background on Dr. Mikuriya Marijuana Specialist Defends His Practice http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/16/thread16156.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment