Crime & Safety

Shoreline Naturopathic Doc Authorizes Medical Marijuana For Three Cops, Earns Two-Year Suspension

Yuel Luncheon Boyce also was fined $5,000.

The "sale" of marijuana-infused peanut butter cups to a trio of undercover cops resulted in a two-year suspension of one Shoreline-based naturopathic physician's credential.

Inadequate examinations for potential medical marijuana patients have led to a license suspension and $5,000 fine for Seattle-area medical marijuana practioner Yuel Luncheon Boyce. The Board of Naturopathy and the Washington State Department of Health imposed the suspension on Boyce's credential after suspending his license in October 2012 for allegedly violating Washington state medical marijuana law, according to The Bellingham Herald.  This recent order completes the legal process that started with the October suspension.

Boyce approved three undercover Bellingham police officers posing as patients for medical marijuana authorizations, according to the Herald. He completed the transaction within 30 minutes, and did not require patient medical records. 

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According to a statement from the Department of Health, Boyce did not appropriately examine, diagnose, or determine whether the officers were “qualifying patients,” and signed medical marijuana authorizations in exchange for cash-only payments. The required physical examinations were not provided and follow-up appointments were not scheduled. After receiving cash, Boyce gave the patients marijuana infused peanut butter cups.

Boyce is suspended from the practice of naturopathy for at least two years from the date of this order and must pay the $5,000 fine before reinstatement. On reinstatement he’ll be on probation for three years and will be restricted from authorizing medical marijuana.

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Editor's Note: Information provided by the Washington State Department of Health.


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