Dept of Health investigation of NDs recommending medical cannabis
| Submitted | Sept. 8, 2011 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: DOH HSQA PDRC External Requests
We are unable to complete your request due to our inability to identify
the "two medical professionals" outlined in your email. Please provide
additional identifying information to enable further processing.
Washington State Department of Health
Public Disclosure and Records Center
From: Cannabis Defense Coalition
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to RCW Ch. 42.56 (Public Records Act), I hereby request the following records:
All records related to the preliminary investigation initiated by Washington State Department of Health's naturopathic advisory committee on September 1, 2011, into two medical professionals who issued medical cannabis recommendations at Hempfest, based on an August 21, 2011 story by Jonathan Martin of Seattle Times, "No medical records? No problem. Got my pot card at Hempfest," along with associated metadata.
I also request that, if possible, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest and not made for commercial gain. The requested documents will be processed by a representative of the news media/press and made available to the public at MuckRock.com. Please fulfill the request electronically, by e-mail attachment if possible or CD-ROM if not, and let me know of any fees that will be assessed.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request.
If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the PRA. I request that any deletions be "blacked out" rather than "whited out". I will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within five business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Sunshine Project
Cannabis Defense Coalition
From: Cannabis Defense Coalition
On Sept. 8, 2011, Washington State Department of Health Public Disclosure and Records Center wrote, "We are unable to complete your request due to our inability to identify the "two medical professionals" outlined in your email. Please provide additional identifying information to enable further processing."
We hereby amend our request for:
"All records related to the preliminary investigation initiated by Washington State Department of Health's naturopathic advisory committee on September 1, 2011, into two medical professionals who issued medical cannabis recommendations at Hempfest, based on an August 21, 2011 story by Jonathan Martin of Seattle Times, "No medical records? No problem. Got my pot card at Hempfest," along with associated metadata."
to instead request:
"All records related to all investigations initiated by Washington State Department of Health's naturopathic advisory committee on September 1, 2011."
Sunshine Project
Cannabis Defense Coalition
From: "DOH HSQA PDRC External Requests" <PDRC@DOH.WA.GOV>
Dear Requestor:
Thank you for your public disclosure request regarding investigations initiated by Washington State Department of Health's naturopathic advisory committee on September 1, 2011.
Requests are handled in the order received. We receive over 10,000 requests a year and some take up to 30 days to complete. This depends on the number of requests pending, as well as the number of records responsive to the request.
The records you requested will be retrieved and reviewed for information that cannot be released. We work as rapidly as possible and will notify you when the records are available.
You will be notified when the records are ready. The records can be made available electronically at no charge. However, if your electronic system cannot or does not accept the requested records, it will be provided to you by CD. There is a charge of $.15 per page for paper copies exceeding fifty (50) pages.
If you prefer, when I have notified you that the documents are ready, you may review them at our Tumwater office. There is no charge for reviewing documents; however, an appointment is necessary.
In the event you no longer need the requested records, please notify us as soon as possible.
For future reference, the DOH web site contains a Provider Credential Search tool. This tool allows people to look up information about health practitioners in our state, including adverse actions. The site is updated on a daily basis and is located at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/providercredentialsearch/.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact our office at (360) 236-4836.
Sincerely,
Public Disclosure Records Center
Health Systems Quality Assurance
PO Box 47865
Olympia WA 98504
From: "DOH HSQA PDRC External Requests" <PDRC@DOH.WA.GOV>
Dear Requestor:
We received your public records request for "all records related to the
preliminary investigation initiated by Washington State Department of
Health's Naturopathic Advisory Committee" on September 12, 2011.
You are requesting information for a case which is currently under
investigation. Under RCW 42.56.240 (1), this information is not
releasable until a decision to close the case is finalized or an
initiating document is issued. Once a decision has occurred you can
resubmit your request.
Under RCW 42.56.520 you may appeal this decision to withhold records by
requesting a review by the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health.
The request must be in writing. The mailing address is:
Deputy Secretary
Washington State Department of Health
P.O. Box 47890
Olympia, WA 98504-7890
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact
our office via email at pdrc@doh.wa.gov or by phone at (360) 236-4836.
Sincerely,
Department of Health
Public Disclosure Records Center
PO Box 47865
Olympia WA 98504-7865
Files
There are no files associated with this request.