Cannabis Blog

AURORA | An Aurora doctor arrested last summer and accused of doling out bogus medical marijuana recommendations can no longer practice medicine amid new accusations he recommended pot for a pregnant woman.

The Colorado Medical Board last month suspended Manuel Aquino-Villaman's medical license pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations he recommended medical marijuana for a pregnant woman.

The new accusations against Aquino-Villaman were first reported on the Solutions health policy analysis website, a product of the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs.

According to Colorado Medical Board documents posted on Solutions website, Aquino-Villaman is accused of writing a medical marijuana recommendation for a woman who was 28 weeks pregnant — without performing a basic physical or even recognizing she was pregnant.

The state accusations are the latest trouble for Aquino-Villaman.

In July, Aurora police arrested him after they say he gave medical marijuana recommendations to two undercover officers who should not have qualified.

According to an arrest affidavit filed against Aquino-Villaman, two separate Aurora police officers went to Aquino-Villaman's office undercover to obtain medical marijuana recommendations, the first in February and the second in April.

Aquino-Villaman's lawyer has said the doctor acted appropriately when he recommended medical marijuana for the two officers and that, based on what the officers told the doctor, they should have qualified for medical marijuana.

Aquino-Villaman is charged with attempting to influence a public servant, namely the director of the state's medical marijuana registry, and with forgery, alleging he falsified the medical marijuana recommendation. Prosecutors have also said they plan to charge him conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

He is set for arraignment in that case in February.

(Source)