A medical marijuana provider being criticized for using teleconference exams says it is following the law.

The Montana Board of Medical Examiners banned the use of video for medical marijuana exams in November, concluding that certification for marijuana use requires a full, in person assessment with a doctor.

Jean Branscum, The Executive Director of the Montana Board of Medical Examiners says the conclusion to limit video teleconferencing is a clarification of a decision in May to set certain standards of care for medical marijuana patients. "When it comes to a standard of care of physicians who are certifying individuals for medical marijuana, that requires a hands-on physical examination by a physician and they indicated that the exclusive use of teleconferencing methods to certify individuals does not meet this level of care."

News reports have surfaced that the Montana Caregivers Network in Missoula continues to use video exams.

A representative of the Montana Caregivers Network told NBC Montana tonight that its physicians only use teleconferencing for follow-up appointments, not for initially issuing a medical marijuana card. The network also says the follow-up video exams are necessary for patients living in rural areas.

Branscum says though physicians are expected to fulfill a standard of care they were trained with, there is no official position from the Montana Board of Medical Examiners on the use of video in follow-up appointments for medical marijuana patients.

(Source)