Aurora continues battle against patients... and doctors

Is this the first arrest of a Doctor?

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Cops: Aurora doctor wrote fake med-pot recommendations - The Denver Post

Cops: Aurora doctor wrote fake med-pot recommendations
By Howard Pankratz
The Denver Post
POSTED: 07/09/2010 02:25:47 PM MDT
UPDATED: 07/09/2010 02:27:26 PM MDT

Manuel Aquino-Villaman

Aurora police have arrested a doctor they say wrote false recommendations for medical marijuana.

Manuel Aquino-Villaman, 69, who is licensed in Colorado to practice medicine, came to the attention of narcotics investigators when they began to encounter a disproportionate number of patients in possession of recommendations from Aquino-Villaman, said a statement issued by Aurora Police spokesman Bob Friel.

Investigators allege that Aquino-Villaman wrote "medical marijuana physician's certificates" for people who were not ill. The certificates allow individuals to legally purchase marijuana.

"This is an unfortunate case of a doctor deliberately using the facade of 'medical marijuana' to help distribute large amounts of marijuana illegally," said Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates.

According to Aurora police, undercover officers visited Aquino-Villaman, who gave each of the officers a recommendation for marijuana without physically examining them and without any evidence that the undercover officers were ill.

The doctor signed a card for both officers stating that each was complaining of severe pain and eligible to obtain medical marijuana under Colorado law.

Investigators allege that Aquino-Villaman spent just minutes with the officers and charged them $125 for the appointment.

After seeing the undercover officers, Aquino-Villaman was arrested at his office at 3033 S. Parker Road.

He is being held for investigation of attempting to influence a public servant and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

His bond has been set at $6,000.

I love the 'help distribute large amounts of marijuana'.

That's just so so great.

hell, they could charge the Colorado Legislature with intent to distribute as well as this guy.

I'm pretty sure that he wrote recs for a few bazillion patients here in Colorado Springs. I see a lot of patients here come in with his recs.

Wonder if all those scripts are going to be void now ?

Another assault on Amendment 20 and The Colorado Constitution. They are trying to kill off MMJ in Colorado and are starting to become effective. Doctors will soon stop writing recommendations altogether. If they were attacking the gun industry like this people wouldnt stand for it, why are we?

I agree 100%, but guns aren't illegal on the federal level, so we have to put up with this bullshit

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PolishPotFarmer

I agree 100%, but guns aren't illegal on the federal level, so we have to put up with this bullshit

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I don't have the right to keep and bear arms?

Maybe I should think about bears for arms, that would be pretty sweet.

what i want to know is how did the investigators get access to so many patients paperwork?:wtf:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SoCoMMJ

I'm pretty sure that he wrote recs for a few bazillion patients here in Colorado Springs. I see a lot of patients here come in with his recs.

Wonder if all those scripts are going to be void now ?

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thats my big worry....are we legal ??

until you hear otherwise from the state, you are legal.

from:
Aurora Sentinel > Archives > News > Aurora cops say local doc handed out pot prescriptions to unqualified patients

"If Aquino-Villaman is convicted of a crime, the State Board of Medical Examiners could strip his license or issue sanctions against it, Hyman said.

If that happens, patients who received a medical marijuana card using Aquino-Villamanâ??s recommendation will not be able to renew their card using his recommendation, Hyman said, and will have to find a new doctor.

Until they are up for an annual renewal, and unless Aquino-Villamanâ??s medical license is stripped or sanctioned, those medical marijuana users will not lose their cards, Hyman said."