(Detroit News) Madison Heights — When Dr. Eric Eisenbud takes the stand in an Oakland County courtroom today to defend a medical marijuana prescription, he’ll be thrust into an unwelcome spotlight.
Forcing doctors to court to discuss patient cases often has a chilling effect on other physicians, and, in this case, on doctors who are considering prescribing pot to sick patients, legal experts, doctors and observers all agree.
“I am concerned about it having a chilling effect on a physician’s willingness to write recommendations for people who are deserving patients,” said Matthew Abel, a Detroit attorney for medical marijuana patients.
“They might have some concern of being put in the spotlight, but the major concern is a doctor is there to treat patients and not testify in court.”
Eisenbud, a Colorado-based ophthalmologist licensed in Michigan who sees patients at the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation clinic in Southfield, is expected to discuss his evaluation of patient Torey Clark, who is charged along with co-defendant Robert Redden with growing marijuana plants inside their Madison Heights home. Clark and Redden have asserted a medical defense.
Madison Heights Judge Robert Turner ordered Eisenbud to testify today about the document Eisenbud signed March 4 that qualifies Clark, who has cancer, to use medical marijuana.
I still can’t get over a licensed eye doctor who recommends medical marijuana whose name sounds like “Eyes and Bud”. It always reminds me of alcohol and drug researcher Dr. Earleywine and his cannabis studies student, Miss Smoker-Barnwell; the pioneering cocaine research done by Dr. Blow; and the LSD research perfomed by Dr. Fried. (All actual names of bona fide drug and alcohol researchers!)
