Bergen County Doctor Who Prescribed Weed To Children Has License Suspended By State

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The state's medical board temporarily suspended the license of a Bergen County doctor who approved medical marijuana for 95 percent of his patients, officials said Wednesday.

Alfred D. Kulik of Fort Lee has lost his license to practice medicine and to perform surgery as he awaits a board hearing, said the state Attorney General's Office.

The temporary suspension came after the board found that he disregarded the requirements for authorizing medical marijuana for children and adults, the state said.

In March of this year, the office filed a complaint alleging that Kulik — a registered participant in New Jersey’s Medical Cannabis Program — authorized medical marijuana for approximately 95 percent of his patients, 10 percent of whom are under the age of 18, the state said.

Most of the child patients were between ages six and 12, the Attorney General's Office said.

According to the complaint, "Kulik never refuses to authorize medical marijuana for any patient, child or adult, including ... when pediatricians are unwilling to do so."

The state cited requirements for prescribing medical marijuana including: that the physician establish a bona fide physician-patient relationship, conduct a physical examination of the patient, and consult the medical records maintained by other treating physicians.

“Safeguarding patients–especially children–from unsafe and unlawful medical practices is an important part of the Division’s consumer protection mission,” said Jeremy Hollander, acting director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “We thank the Board of Medical Examiners for recognizing and intervening to halt the imminent threat.”

Kulik testified that he often authorizes medical marijuana after only the first patient visit, according to the state.

They quoted him as saying that he finds physically examining patients before prescribing marijuana "meaningless."

The state also said Kulik doesn't always consult with other doctors who are treating the patient, or look at the patients' bloodwork.

“It is abundantly clear that respondent has totally disregarded essentially all the board's requirements that apply to the authorization of medical marijuana,” the Board found.

The bio on Kulik's website notes that he's a cancer survivor and understands the needs of patients battling long-term, chronic conditions.

The doctor "has been certifying patients in the medical marijuana programs of New Jersey and New York since the inception of the programs in 2010 and 2014, respectively," according to the bio. "Dr. Kulik is one of the most experienced physicians in both states."

The full complaint is here.