Nirvikalpa
08-07-2012, 02:40 PM
As tweeted by The DO Magazine (https://twitter.com/TheDOmagazine) and posted at The News Tribune (http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/05/2243462/tacoma-pot-doc-fighting-state.html):
A Tacoma physician, charged with unprofessional conduct by the state for advertising his willingness to authorize medical marijuana, is fighting back, saying the ban on such advertising illegally restricts doctors’ right to free speech.
The state Department of Health charged Dr. Scott Havsy, an osteopath specializing in pain management, on July 19 for a display featured on the homepage of his practice’s website.
The words “Medical Marijuana Certificate” appear with the Rx prescription symbol superimposed over a marijuana leaf. Above is the headline: “Find out if you qualify for a Green Card?”
Health Department spokesman Tim Church said he believes Havsy is the first physician in Washington to be charged under the law banning medical marijuana advertising.
Havsy says he refused a Health Department settlement offer that would have had him remove the display, admit to unprofessional conduct, pay a $1,000 fine and take 10 hours of classes on legal issues. Instead, he wants a public hearing, and says he’ll take the issue to the Washington State Supreme Court if necessary.
“What they are trying to do is limit physician advertising,” Havsy said. “This is not about marijuana. It’s about physicians’ right to advertise and inform the public about what we do.”
Under Washington’s medical marijuana law, physicians can assist patients with medical marijuana and write authorizations for those who qualify.
They’re not allowed to include any reference to medical marijuana – written or visual – in an advertisement. According to state law, that’s unprofessional conduct, punishable by fines and other sanctions, up to and including revoking a doctor’s license to practice medicine.
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/05/2243462/tacoma-pot-doc-fighting-state.html#storylink=cpy
Here is a doctor at risk of losing his license to practice medicine, for publishing an ad that he does, indeed, prescribe medical marijuana. The MMJ advocates, specifically those who donated to the man running over cop car's bail fund... where are you? I hope you follow this story closely.
A Tacoma physician, charged with unprofessional conduct by the state for advertising his willingness to authorize medical marijuana, is fighting back, saying the ban on such advertising illegally restricts doctors’ right to free speech.
The state Department of Health charged Dr. Scott Havsy, an osteopath specializing in pain management, on July 19 for a display featured on the homepage of his practice’s website.
The words “Medical Marijuana Certificate” appear with the Rx prescription symbol superimposed over a marijuana leaf. Above is the headline: “Find out if you qualify for a Green Card?”
Health Department spokesman Tim Church said he believes Havsy is the first physician in Washington to be charged under the law banning medical marijuana advertising.
Havsy says he refused a Health Department settlement offer that would have had him remove the display, admit to unprofessional conduct, pay a $1,000 fine and take 10 hours of classes on legal issues. Instead, he wants a public hearing, and says he’ll take the issue to the Washington State Supreme Court if necessary.
“What they are trying to do is limit physician advertising,” Havsy said. “This is not about marijuana. It’s about physicians’ right to advertise and inform the public about what we do.”
Under Washington’s medical marijuana law, physicians can assist patients with medical marijuana and write authorizations for those who qualify.
They’re not allowed to include any reference to medical marijuana – written or visual – in an advertisement. According to state law, that’s unprofessional conduct, punishable by fines and other sanctions, up to and including revoking a doctor’s license to practice medicine.
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/05/2243462/tacoma-pot-doc-fighting-state.html#storylink=cpy
Here is a doctor at risk of losing his license to practice medicine, for publishing an ad that he does, indeed, prescribe medical marijuana. The MMJ advocates, specifically those who donated to the man running over cop car's bail fund... where are you? I hope you follow this story closely.