NEW: Medical Marijuana ‘Consultancy’ Shut Down By Dept. of Health
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
A Providence company that has been providing customers with medical marijuana authorization has been ordered to cease and desist operations as they are not licensed to do so, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH).
11th State Consultations, LTD, is an organization located at 400 Reservoir Avenue in Providence, and is operated by Tom Folcarelli and Maria Petrucci, according to documents filed by HEALTH.
Investigation by HEALTH
On October 23, 2012, HEALTH initiated an inspection of 11th State Consultations after receiving information from Dr. Soneath Pond regrading his work as an independent consultant for the organization. Preliminary evidence gathered by HEALTH indicates that 11th State Consultations "provides health care consultations and conducts medical and health care assessments to individuals of the public on an outpatient basis on the premises … and provides individuals based on their medical assessment with an authorization by a licensed medical practitioner for the use of medical marijuana."
Pursuant to RI General Laws, those activities fall under the definition of a Health Care Facility, but 11th State Consultations is not organized or registered as such.
11th State has been ordered to "cease marketing and providing patient consultations and assessment services to the public for the purpose of providing medical authorizations for medical marijuana," according to HEALTH. Any failure to do so will result in further action, according to HEALTH, which may include fines or imprisonment for more than one year.
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