Nov. 27--A Lake Forest doctor who authorities said misled patients by claiming he could get them medical marijuana has been barred from practicing medicine without supervision for at least two years and was fined $10,000 under an agreement with state regulatory panel.
Dr. Brian Murray last year helped open the Good Intentions clinic in West Town, where he charged patients to fill out paperwork for pre-certification to get medical marijuana under the state law enacted in 2013.
The law allows for the possession and use of marijuana by people afflicted by about 40 medical issues, among them HIV and cancer. More restrictive than medical marijuana laws in other states, Illinois' regulations also require that patients have an existing relationship with a physician who can provide documentation to back their medical need for the drug.
The state in December contended that Murray acted unprofessionally and in a misleading way by pre-qualifying patients for medical marijuana without conducting examinations and before any legal process had been set up for such actions.
Murray last summer told a reporter his goal was to establish a meaningful doctor-patient relationship with the patients, some of whom were paying a $99 fee for an individual care plan that they were told would be formulated later.
Under an agreement made in October between Murray and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Murray's physician and surgeon's license will be placed on probation for at least two years. That will require him to work with a licensed physician who will submit quarterly reports about his performance. He also agreed to pay the $10,000 fine.
Murray is also required to complete 10 hours of continuing medical education credits related to professional responsibility, ethical boundaries and medicolegal standards in Illinois, according to the state.
Under the agreement, Murray "does not admit that the allegations ... are true."
Neither Murray nor his attorneys could be reached Wednesday for comment.
A spokesperson associated with the Good Intentions clinic said Murray has not been affiliated with the practice since January.
mmanchir@tribpub.com
Twitter @mmanchir
