State suspends second doctor for improper marijuana approvals

BOSTON — The state has suspended the license of another doctor for improperly recommending patients for medical marijuana – including one pregnant woman with a history of opioid abuse, FOX25 Investigates has learned.

The state Board of Registration in Medicine suspended the license of Dr. Tyrone Cushing last night.

Cushing, who works at CannaMed in Framingham approved more than 4,600 people for medical marijuana but didn't examine a single patient, according to board records.

The board noted a caseworker at the Department of Children and Families reported concerns about Cushing in 2013 after he approved medical marijuana for a 29-year-old pregnant woman who had a past history of opioid abuse.

Cushing was the third-highest provider for approving medical marijuana patients in the state but only worked two days per week at CannaMed, according to the state.

Cushing is the second doctor this week to be suspended over improper medical marijuana approvals.

FOX25 Investigates first reported that another doctor – John C. Nadolny – was suspended last Thursday for recommending patients he never evaluated or saw at Canna Care.

Multiple former Canna Care nurse practitioners have told FOX25 Investigates that they were evaluating patients on their own and approving medical marijuana patients using several Canna Care doctor’s names – including Nadolny.

Massachusetts law requires doctors – not nurses – to have a “bona fide” relationship with a patient before recommending them for medical marijuana.

Canna Care is under investigation for approving medical marijuana for David Njuguna. Prosecutors say Njuguna had marijuana in his system when he hit and killed State Trooper Thomas Clardy in March.

Cox Media Group