High-Volume Medical Marijuana Doctors in Arkansas Show Little Evidence of Coordinating Patient Care

Medical marijuana was certified for 3.4% of Arkansans 18+ by 12.5% of state-licensed physicians. PTSD and four pain diagnoses were the most common qualifying conditions. Low-volume certifying physicians showed evidence of care coordination — most had seen and diagnosed patients with qualifying conditions. Seven high-volume physicians (1,000+ certifications each) showed limited prior contact with certified patients.

Analysis of Arkansas medical marijuana certification data linked to physician practice records. Profiled certified individuals, qualifying conditions, and evidence of care coordination between certifying and primary care physicians.

The disconnect between high-volume certifying physicians and their patients raises questions about quality of care. Medical marijuana certifications without proper evaluation may expose patients to risks and undermine the medical framework intended to guide cannabis use.

As the federal government considers rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, this study highlights the need for clinical guidelines, provider notification systems, and integration of medical marijuana certifications into health information exchanges.

Arkansas-specific data may not generalize to other states. Administrative data cannot capture quality of clinical encounters. High-volume physicians may conduct thorough evaluations not reflected in prior claims data. Qualifying condition determination is complex.