Minutes December 2000
Minutes of Meeting (Revised per 12/14/01 meeting)
Call To Order – The first meeting of the California Cannabis Research
Medical Group was held on December 8, 2000, at St. Luke’s Skilled Nursing
Facility in San Pablo. The meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m.
by Tod Mikuriya, M.D., Chairman.
Attendance – William Barton, PhD; Phillip Denney, M.D.; William Eidelmann,
M. D.; R. Steve Ellis, M.D.; Frank Fisher, M.D.; George Fuller, M.D.;
Dale Gieringer, M.D.; Richard Hansen, M.D.; Jeff Hergenrather, M.D.;
Frank Lucido, M.D. Also: Mr. Fred Gardner; Susan Lea, Esq., Corporate
Counsel; Jeanne Linda, Medical Staff Services Consultant; John Trapp,
Executive Assistant.
Introductions – Appropriate introductions were made by each member
present, location of practice and patient advocacy for medical cannabis
were discussed.
Self-Governance with Contemporary Technology – Doctor Mikuriya discussed
the importance of the California Cannabis Research Medical Group and
the opportunities the Group has in developing the primary protocols
in the use of cannabis for medical use. A goal of the Group will to
employ state-of-the-art technology whenever possible that will include
a virtual medical staff office, teleconferencing, and the use of PDA’s
(personal digital assistants, e.g., Palm pilot), videoconferencing,
etc.
Medical Staff Bylaws – Medical Staff Bylaws have been developed for
the California Cannabis Research Medical Group, tailored from the California
Medical Association Model Bylaws. Changes have been made to accommodate
the needs of this specific Medical Group. This will serve as an initial
framework with revisions implemented as required. Motion was made,
seconded and carried to approve the Operating Bylaws of the California
Cannabis Research Medical Group with the following addition: Article
VIII – Allied Health Professional Appointments – Addition of Nurse
Practitioners.
Dues – Membership dues were discussed, including the use of such dues
to cover credentialing costs, and a motion was made, seconded and carried
to approve an initial membership fee of $100/year. However, at the
12/14/01 meeting, it was pointed out that this might conflict with
Article III of the Bylaws which states that “the corporation shall
not receive membership fees of any kind.” Therefore, a resolution was
passed on 12/14/01 that this $100/year would be named a “credentialing
costs fee” and used only for that purpose.
Medicolegal Information – Susan Lea, Esq. discussed the corporate
structure of CCRMG, which is filed under charitable and scientific
purpose. Appropriate filing with the IRS also occurred September 30,
2000. The bylaws of both medical staff and corporation will permit
the group to enjoy the benefits of support from the tax-deductible
charitable education status of CCRMG. The importance of sharing information,
and developing protocols for indications of cannabis for medical use,
patient assessment, documentation guidelines and using the Medical
Group for this type of forum were discussed. She would also like the
group to communicate information of those experiencing problems with
the California Medical Board and other agencies due to prescribing
medical cannabis. Criminal subpoenas, civil rights cases and court
appearances were discussed. All questions posed by the Group were answered
by Ms. Lea.
Service Contracts – Research and service opportunities have dramatically
increased with the passage of Proposition 36. The use of cannabis substitution
in harm reduction treatment programs can be contracted with California
cannabis centers for medical supervision services by CCRMG. Other service
contracts including government agencies and pharmaceutical research
contracts were discussed. The Group will endeavor to contract with
an Institutional Review Board in order to receive approval for protocols
and voluntary informed consent which meet federal guidelines on testing
of human subjects in relation to clinical research.
Committees Duties and Membership – Committees include the Medical
Executive Committee, Medical Records Committee, Quality Assurance Committee,
Psychiatric Harm-Reduction Committee and Technology/Information Committee.
The Quality Assurance Committee will include the ISO-9000 International
Standards for Quality. Initial committee memberships were deliberated,
including the following committee assignments:
Richard Hansen, M.D. and Tod Mikuriya, M.D. – Psychiatric Harm-Reduction Committee
Jeff Hergenrather, M.D. and Frank Lucido, M,D. – Medical Records Committee
Phillip Denney, M.D. and Tod Mikuriya, M.D. – Quality Assurance Committee
Other assignments will be in follow-up. The first meeting will consist of the
Medical Records Committee due to the importance of conformity and uniformity
in documentation.
The CCRMG meetings will be quarterly. The full group will be notified
of the next meeting
Technology/Information – Meetings will be held on-line whenever possible
and using conference calls. The CCRMG website is in development. The
CCRMG logo was available to all via email attachment.
Adjournment – There being no further business, the meeting adjourned
at 1:50 p.m.
_____________________________________________________________________
Tod Mikuriya, M.D., Chair
Original minutes signed on January 9, 2001
Revised minutes signed on January 8, 2002