The Medical Board of California has placed a Long Beach doctor on probation for one year after undercover Medical Board investigators obtained medical marijuana recommendations for “stress” or “sadness.”  One investigator obtained a medical marijuana recommendation after a conversation that lasted approximately one minute at a hemp convention, the other obtained one without ever seeing or speaking to the doctor and stating that she did not have her identification because her license was suspended for driving under the influence.

According to Medical Board documents, Dennis Larry Clark, M.D. admits he issued medical marijuana recommendations as addressed in the accusations and failed to keep adequate and accurate records for the people he issued medical marijuana recommendations to.

The decision to place Clark on probation for a year and stay a revocation of his Physician’s and Surgeon’s Certificate was made May 9, 2014 and became effective June 8, 2014.

The following is from the Medical Board’s Accusation: 

To read the Stipulated Settlement and the complete Accusation click on link below, enter document site and enter doctor’s name.

http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Enforcement/Public_Document_Search.aspx

“I hope this serves as a warning to those in the medical profession who take lightly their responsibilities to improve the health and safety of others,” said Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) which represents Medical Board investigators.  “Medical Board investigators will enter doctors’ offices as patients and make a case against those who are practicing inappropriately.”