TRENTON - The physician who once billed himself as "Dr. Marijuana" is now prohibited from practicing medicine or recommending medical marijuana to patients and must shut down his practice.

The state Board of Medical Examiners on Thursday temporarily suspended the license of Dr. Anthony Anzalone, who state investigators allege registered thousands of patients for the New Jersey medical marijuana program without following the laws and regulations governing it.

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Anzalone's practice, now known as "NJ Green MD," has offices in Rutherford, Tinton Falls and the Iselin area of Woodbridge.

Anzalone, 66, was one of the first physicians to register with the New Jersey medical marijuana program in 2012. He has registered over 3,000 patients for the program — over 2,000 are active patients — while the average physician registered with the state medical marijuana program has a patient roll of just 45, the state Attorney General's office said in a news release.

In a complaint filed with the medical examiners board, the Attorney General's Office alleged that Anzalone authorized medical marijuana use en masse, including at conferences he organized in hotel ballrooms.

He rarely met with the prospective patients in person, instead relying on staff members to examine, instruct, register and collect a $350 consultation fee from them, the office said.

Many of those patients had conditions that didn't qualify for the New Jersey medical marijuana program, the office said.

For one family's perspective on how medical marijuana helped their daughter, watch a video at the top of the page.

State law requires medical marijuana doctors to maintain a bona fide physician-patient relationship in order to recommend medical marijuana.

“State legislatures may relax their laws against marijuana — and many already have —but there are limits to what state law allows, and the public should know that we vigorously enforce those limits to protect public safety and prevent unlawful distribution,” Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a statement.

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Anzalone's license will remain suspended until allegations against him are resolved.

"Dr. Anzalone is a very popular doctor that takes great care of his patients. He is a trailblazer in this industry," attorney Jef Henninger, representing Anzalone, said in an email. "Dr. Anzalone maintains his innocence and looks forward to having his license reinstated at the conclusion of this matter."

In a 2016 interview with The Record, Anzalone said he saw his patients three to five times to prove a bona fide relationship existed, per state law.

At the time, he had just been evicted from his Meadowlands Plaza office when the leasing company learned he was recommending medical marijuana to patients.

Under the terms of the Interim Consent Order, Anzalone is prohibited from registering new patients into the MMP or beginning any new treatment in any specialty of medicine, including Obstetrics and Gynecology, during the 30-day wind down period.

Over the next 30 days, Anzalone must gradually shut down his practice. He is permitted to provide just one 30-day medical marijuana renewal to existing patients due for renewal, provided he conducts and documents an in-person, private physical examination of the patient.

He cannot charge more than the $100 renewal fee, and his practice cannot take on any new patients.

“We allege that Dr. Anzalone exploited his patients and the MMP for his own gain, completely disregarding the regulations meant to protect patients and promote the efficacious use of medicinal marijuana,” Division of Consumer Affairs Acting Director Paul R. Rodríguez said in a statement.

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"By temporarily suspending Dr. Anzalone from practicing medicine, we are making it clear that we will not allow unscrupulous doctors to enrich themselves at the expense of the safety and welfare of their patients and the public," Rodriguez said.

Anzalone's patients can contact the state Health Department at 609-292-0424 for help transitioning to a new physician.

Mike Davis; @byMikeDavis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com