FOX25 Investigates: Thousands could lose medical marijuana card, complaint says

BOSTON — A Norwell doctor is asking the Attorney General to stop the state from stripping thousands of medical marijuana cards from patients certified by Canna Care Docs – a group of clinics which have come under scrutiny after one of their top physicians had his license suspended for improperly approving pot patients.

In a court complaint filed with the state, Dr. Katherine Downey raises concerns that thousands of medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts could be invalidated because they were certified by Dr. John C. Nadolny, who approved 5,792 pot patients through Canna Care.

“We have almost 6,000-plus patients that are at risk here – at serious risk,” said Downey, who was certified for her own medical marijuana card through Canna Care.

The Board of Registration in Medicine suspended Nadolny's license last week for allowing nurse practitioners to approve pot patients he never saw or evaluated.

Multiple former Canna Care nurse practitioners have told FOX25 Investigates that they were evaluating patients on their own and approving medical marijuana patients using several Canna Care doctor’s names – including Nadolny.

Massachusetts law requires doctors – not nurses – to have a “bona fide” relationship with a patient before recommending them for medical marijuana.

Downey, who runs a medical practice which also certifies patients for medical marijuana, wants the state Attorney General or the courts “to make a determination regarding the validity of their state-issued medical marijuana cards,” according to a complaint she filed with the Attorney General.

A spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Office said they became of the aware of the complaint Wednesday and are reviewing the matter. The AG’s Office declined further comment.

The Department of Public Health, which regulates medical marijuana, did not respond to requests for comment about whether Dr. Nadolny’s patients could lose their medical marijuana cards.

Canna Care executives have offered to recertify any of their medical marijuana patients free of charge.

In statement released through his public relations firm, Canna Care owner Kevin Kafka said, “Canna Care Docs stands by all of its current certifications as we believe they are in compliance with state law.  We invite, however, any clients who are concerned about their certification status to contact us and schedule an appointment for a re-certification evaluation at any of our eight Massachusetts centers, free of charge.  Clients can contact us during business hours at 781-382-8053.  Access to medical marijuana is of paramount importance and we do not want any patients to be concerned about their health care.”

Cox Media Group