Missouri medical marijuana clinic suddenly shuts down, blaming 'other providers,' state health department

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A Kansas City-based cannabis clinic with locations in St. Louis, the Ozarks and other parts of Missouri announced Tuesday morning that it was shutting down, effective immediately.

In a Facebook post made about 10 a.m., The Green Clinics blamed the state health department and other cannabis clinics for its decision to cease operations.

"Cannabis clinics" is an industry term referring to facilities where medical doctors certify patients so they can apply to state authorities for a medical marijuana card.

The Green Clinics' posting, in its entirety, states the following:

"Due to other providers failing to follow (Missouri's medical marijuana constitutional amendment) and its associated rules, and the (state health department's) failure to enforce the law, The Green Clinics will close effective immediately.

"We are sincerely grateful for each and every patient we have met over the last year. Your stories are in our hearts and we truly wish you relief and healing. Thank you for trusting us to assist you.

"Should any of our current patients have questions or concerns, they may be directed to Emily@TheGreenClinics.com.

"On advice of counsel, no comments will be made to the press. Thank you."

Reached by email, clinic owner Emily Branch told the News-Leader: "What needs to be asked: why is the state running all of the good businesses who actually care about patients out of the industry in favor of folks like Dr Zinia Thomas whose team just won three cultivation licenses??"

Thomas is a state-licensed psychiatrist who operates the Cannabus, a traveling cannabis clinic that has certified patients for medical marijuana cards in cities including St. Louis, Rolla, Marshfield and Springfield.

The Cannabus has prompted controversy because some have accused it of unethical practices, including accusations that cannabis has been illegally sold from the back of the Cannabus vehicle at traveling clinic events. But in Rolla, law enforcement checked out those claims.

More on medical cannabis: Everything you need to know about medical marijuana in Missouri

"We had a couple of undercover officers check that out," Rolla Police Chief Sean Fagan told the News-Leader in September. "And that was completely false. They were not selling anything they shouldn't."

Despite the accusation leveled by Branch, it's not clear whether Thomas or others tied to the Cannabus were among 60 winners of commercial marijuana cultivation licenses announced earlier this month by state authorities.

The state's official listing of approved licensed entities does not specifically name Thomas, the Cannabus or her company, Health City MD, among those who will be allowed to grow marijuana for sale in retail dispensaries in 2020. It's not clear which "team" members might have applied for a commercial cultivation license.

But state rules for registering LLC businesses do not require that owners be listed on a company's paperwork. Companies must furnish the name of a registered agent and organizers, which may be different people than the owners of the company.

On Monday, the parent company of the Cannabus, Health City MD, promoted a "contest" on social media, stating "get ready (we're) giving away another Medical Card" and "get ready for a chance to win."

Under Missouri's medical marijuana amendment, only state health department authorities, not doctors or private entities, may issue a valid medical marijuana patient ID card.

The News-Leader reached out to Health City MD seeking comment from Thomas or other officials and has not yet heard back.

Lisa Cox, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, provided the News-Leader with a statement late Tuesday.

"DHSS has limited authority over physicians and operates under the mandates of Article XIV (Missouri's medical marijuana constitutional amendment), which specifies that we must approve physician certifications from doctors licensed and in good standing under Missouri law. The status of physician licenses is determined solely by the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts, which is not within DHSS. Regarding issuance of medical marijuana licensing, we are tasked with carefully reviewing the applications we receive for compliance with Article XIV and the program’s rules and have issued licenses according to the law."

This is not the first controversy following the announcement of medical marijuana commercial licenses by Missouri authorities.

A company turned down for a cultivation license, Sarcoxie Nurseries, filed a lawsuit against the state health department, which had its first court hearing Monday.