State Of NJ Shuts Down NJGReenMD In Iselin

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — An Iselin-based health clinic that used to be run by one of the most pro-medical marijuana doctors in the state — and who also had his medical license suspended last month — is still open to treat patients.

The doctor's office was formerly called NJGReenMD. It used to be run by Dr. Anthony Anzalone, M.D., a controversial figure in the New Jersey healthcare world. The state Attorney General suspended Anzalone's medical license last month, after accusing him of abusing New Jersey's medical marijuana program.

Anzalone, however, maintains he is very proud of the work he's done out of his Woodbridge clinic.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished over the past seven years," said Anzalone in a statement after his license was suspended. "As the opioid crisis worsens, we have seen over a 50 percent success rate of opioid-addicted patients stop taking opioids, and these patients are now being treated with medical marijuana.”

Anzalone is quite well known in the field of medical marijuana: As he explained in this 2013 profile in NJ Spotlight, his interest in the drug began when he realized the only thing he was able to prescribe to pain patients were opiates, with potentially dangerous — and addictive — side effects.

When New Jersey passed the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act in 2012, Anzalone was one of the first doctors in the state to sign up for it (there are now 865 physicians participating). He also re-named his practice "New Jersey Medical Marijuana Doctors" and launched the website drmarijuananj.com.

However, in 2016 Anzalone began holding large-scale conferences at hotels across the state. Investigators charge that it was at these conferences that he would direct his staff, who were not trained in medicine, to register attendees for New Jersey's medical marijuana program. They say Anzalone never personally evaluated or treated these patients.

Anzalone charged each person who attended his conference an initial consultation fee of $350, and subsequently charged them quarterly fees of $100 for continued authorization of the drug. Those who paid in cash upfront were given a 90-day supply of pot.

State investigators contend Anzalone made millions off the scheme. Since he first signed up to prescribe the drug, Anzalone has authorized nearly 3,250 patients for medicinal marijuana. Compare that to most other doctors in New Jersey's medical marijuana program, who have an average of just 45 patients, the attorney general's office said.

They also say the people he signed up would not even qualify, in part because they lacked a debilitating condition, or they fabricated debilitating conditions to qualify.

Anzalone agreed with the state medical board to temporarily suspend his license until the charges could be resolved.

A lawyer representing Anzalone called him a "trailblazer" in his field, who would ultimately one day be vindicated.

"Dr. Anzalone is a very popular doctor that takes great care of his patients," said his attorney, Jef Henninger. "He is a trailblazer in this industry. Dr. Anzalone maintains his innocence and looks forward to having his license reinstated at the conclusion of this matter."

As part of the terms of the suspension, Anzalone also had to shut down all businesses he runs by Feb. 8 of this year.

The doctor's office is located at 2 Austin Avenue in Iselin, and it's still open and seeing patients, just under a new name. Anzalone is not involved in the operation of the business.

Original Patch article about Anthony Anzalone: State Suspends License For Top NJ Marijuana Doctor

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