NM PA fighting cannabis politics

New Mexico Physicians Assistant, Richard Rubin has lost his license to practice and his Drug Enforcement Agency authority to prescribe drugs.

His attorney contends it is part of a conflict between two state bureaus. A shrink named Steve Jenkusky, who is addicted to revenues from Big Pharma, was appointed to the state medical board by earth hater Governor Susana Martinez, addicted to Big Oil. Psychotropic and painkiller meds have skyrocketed during her tenure.

Peter St. Cyr wrote in the Santa Fe Reporter:

In effect, Rubin is a casualty of the legal complexity governing medical professionals: While the Compassionate Use Act governs their participation in the medical cannabis program, a wholly different law—the Medical Practices Act—governs the state Medical Board. In December 2011, an unnamed “community physician” complained to DOH about Rubin, writing in a letter that he was “potentially completing medical certification without clinical evaluations.” On Feb. 9, 2012, according to records, Jenkusky filed a complaint against Rubin with the NMMB for “promoting non-evidence-based care that could harm this patient.” Rubin, for his part, contrasts the use of medical cannabis with that of historic psychiatric treatments such as electroshock therapy and lobotomies.

There you have it.

The legislature is considering outright legalization of cannabis.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee was encouraged by his recent discussion about legal cannabis with US Attorney General Eric Holder according to a story in the Seattle Times:

The governor added that Holder’s questions show he is “going to be fully attentive” to Washington’s evolving law. Inslee said it’s no surprise that Holder would take his time to fully evaluate the implementation of I-502.

Arizona's legislature is grappling with its own MMJ law.

A bill being introduced to the Texas legislature seeks to provide for a medical necessity defense in court.

Update, 15:00 MST, 25 January: US Food and Drug Administration wants to move some of the more dangerous opioids from Schedule III to II and prevent nurse practitioners and physicians assistants from prescribing them according to NPR.