MarijuanaDoctors.com scrutinized in Minnesota as patients seek medicinal pot

A New York company that connects patients with doctors willing to approve medical marijuana certifications is drawing scrutiny from medical professionals and state officials as it expands to Minnesota.

The state's medical marijuana program is set to launch on July 1. MarijuanaDoctors.com's John Nicolazzo said his company coordinates with doctors to set up clinics to give patients the sign-off required by the state to buy the new medicine.

"Without us, there would be literally thousands of patients who would not be able to locate doctors that are willing to write a medical cannabis [reccomendation]."

The company doesn't own or operate any clinics outright, Nicolazzo said. Instead, they plan to assist with the opening of a dozen clinics across the state and connect them with patients. The first clinic was registered in Bloomington this week.

Nicolazzo said the company is merely trying to fill a void in Minnesota, where many doctors, clinics and hospitals are wary of registering patients for the medicine. Nicolazzo's company has previously partnered with 486 doctors and clinics in other states that have medical marijuana programs to educate them about state law and help connect with patients.

"It does pose a problem when a person goes to their primary care physician, who has no knowledge about this medicine, who does not understand the law, simply because it is a state law and still federally illegal," Nicolazzo said.

He said the company doesn't urge people to leave primary care doctors for "pot doctors," but that it offered a last resort for patients whose doctors are unwilling to allow medical marijuana. Already, Nicolazzo said 2,600 potential patients in the state have contacted the company.

"If a patient goes to that primary care physician, and that physician, for whatever reason, does not want to certify that patient, and that patient has exhausted all other treatment options, then there's an issue there," Nicolazzo said.

"It shouldn't be just a one-stop visit to be certified for cannabis, and then 'See ya later.'"

But the state is on the lookout for quick-approval operations that may skirt the state law meant to ensure patients are certified to get medical marijuana only from doctors with whom they have a medical history. One doctor helping Minnesota write regulations for its program said he thought the clinics spearheaded by MarijuanaDoctors may be "preying upon anxious people who want an answer today."

Nicolazzo rejected the suggestion that the clinics working with his company would violate any state law.

"Without us, there would be literally thousands of patients who would not be able to locate doctors that are willing to write a medical cannabis rec," he told the Associated Press. "Without a company out there that is educating doctors ... this program wouldn't see the light of day."

MarijuanaDoctors itself is not applying with the state to directly certify patients. The company provides initial startup help to doctors or clinics, access to a backend patient scheduling system and, in some cases, some marketing assistance. In turn, Nicolazzo said the clinics pay between about $300 and $900 in monthly fees.

Nicollazo said MarijuanaDoctors worked hard to follow Minnesota law. He said each of the 12 groups his company is working with has a specialist in one of the nine conditions that qualify for the program.

The first to pop up was the Minnesota Certification Clinic in Bloomington. Its website -- promising "convenient" approval for the program -- provided a glimmer of hope for Shelly Rapp. After her 18-year-old son Scott's neurologist declined to fill out the necessary forms to buy medical marijuana to treat intractable seizures, it seemed promising.

But a high charge -- $250 for the first appointment -- and questions about whether the state has approved the clinic has her on edge about the appointment she scheduled later this month.

"If I can get a certification, I absolutely will," she said. "If it's not legitimate, there's no way."

A person who identified himself as one of two state-licensed physicians behind the Minnesota Certification Clinic, but would not give his name to the Associated Press. Manny Munson-Regala, an assistant commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Health, said the state is still reviewing applications from health care providers but couldn't confirm whether the Minnesota Certification Clinic -- or any specific group -- was still pending.

The state wants to ensure that doctors giving patients the go-ahead are taking care of them in the long term, and not providing "certifications for hire," Munson-Regala said. He urged patients seeking a doctor's approval to ask any provider whether they have been approved by the state before paying money at an appointment.

Dr. Charles Reznikoff, a physician who helped Minnesota write its rules for the program, said Marijuana Doctors' model clearly violates the spirit of Minnesota's law. He cautioned patients anxious to try medical marijuana not to leave their doctor in order to get another's approval.

"It shouldn't be just a one-stop visit to be certified for cannabis, and then 'See ya later,'" he said.

"Don't leave a doctor you otherwise like because of this. It won't be worth it."

Online research of MarijuanaDoctors and top executives found that four company employees, including Nicolazzo, were arrested in Nassau County, New York, last year after police found marijuana and cocaine in their company van during a traffic stop.

One employee was later fired for carrying the cocaine, which Nicolazzo said the company's executives didn't know about. Nicolazzo said he and another co-founder each served community service for having marijuana, although he said he is eligible for the marijuana under New York state's program.

The Associated Press contributed to this report