A Fort Lee physician had his license revoked after state officials said he authorized medical cannabis for nearly 100% of his patients, including children. (Photo by Daniella Heminghaus/New Jersey Monitor)
A Fort Lee physician had his medical license temporarily suspended after state officials claimed he ignored state law on prescribing medical marijuana, including by authorizing it for children as young as five years old.
Dr. Alfred D. Kulik, an ophthalmologist who officials say has no formal training in pediatrics or psychiatry, authorized medical marijuana for about 95% of his patients, 10% of whom were under 18, according to a complaint filed by the state Attorney General’s Office released Wednesday. The majority of those minor patients were between six and 12 years old, the complaint says.
“Illegal and unsafe medical practices that put patients, and especially kids, in harm’s way have no place in our state. Indiscriminate medical marijuana authorization can lead to serious health problems, especially for kids and young adults. We have safeguards built into our medical marijuana laws for a reason, and compliance is mandatory, not optional,” Attorney General Jen Davenport said in a statement.
Kulik almost never refused to authorize medical marijuana for any patient, whether a child or adult, according to the March 30 complaint, which alleges that Kulik would “get creative” and talk with patients until he could find a diagnosis that would qualify them for the program. State officials also accuse him of prescribing medical marijuana for inmates on parole who were barred from using recreational marijuana, and for others with psychiatric diagnoses for which marijuana is not recommended.
In one case, the state Board of Medical Examiners found that Kulik claimed a minor patient needed medical cannabis because he had anxiety and Tourette syndrome, when in fact the patient had been diagnosed with autism and aggravation, the complaint says. In another case, Kulik prescribed medical marijuana for a 5-year-old, claimed in the patient’s records that he was 13 years old, and made no subsequent contact with the patient’s doctors, according to the complaint.
At times, Kulik met patients at dispensaries, in cars, and even at diners, according to the complaint.
A requesnt for comment from Kulik was not returned.
Under New Jersey’s medical marijuana program, physicians are permitted to prescribe medical cannabis to patients with certain medical conditions ranging from chronic pain and anxiety to seizure disorders and cancer. Minors are eligible to participate in the program under stricter requirements. In those cases, the physicians must be board-certified pediatricians or pediatric specialists, obtain a supporting letter from a psychiatrist confirming the minor is likely to benefit from the treatment, and explain all risks and benefits of marijuana use to the patient and parents or guardian.
The Board of Medical Examiners found Kulik “utterly disregarded” most requirements for authorizing medical cannabis and had a “dismissive attitude” toward regulations. During an April 15 hearing, Kulik testified that he found physical exams for patients “meaningless,” does not take comprehensive medical histories, and does not review records from other physicians. When investigators asked if he was aware that a psychiatrist’s letter is required to prescribe medical marijuana to minors, he responded that “he does not think that is true.”
The board also raised concerns about his record-keeping habits. Patient files for seven minors largely consisted of texts with little clinical documentation or submissions to the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which oversees the state’s medical marijuana program. He also offered some summaries of patients that were generated by AI, according to the complaint.
Kulik argued during the April hearing that he’s been practicing medicine for 40 years and “nothing’s happened yet,” according to documents in the case. He said the Cannabis Regulatory Commission system is not quick and sometimes never leads to approval of medical cannabis for children, and that he speeds up paperwork because “the kids are going to be dead,” the documents show.
His license to practice medicine and surgery in New Jersey will remain suspended pending the outcome of an administrative law hearing.
“Suspending this doctor’s license while the case is pending ensures that he will have no contact with patients while these very serious allegations are being heard,” Davenport said.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
