Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez writes about his trip to a clinic specializing in herbal medicine (known for “writing recommendations that allow folks to buy medical marijuana”).

Photo by Troy Holden via Flickr.

After explaining the back pain he’s suffered through for the past few decades, Lopez was issued a form announcing that “Steve Lopez was evaluated in my office for a medical condition, which in my professional opinion, may benefit from the use of medical marijuana.”

The doctor, who described himself as a gynecologist, billed Lopez $150 for the visit.

On Sunday, Lopez will publish a follow-up (his stories are archived here) about his marijuana dispensary shopping experience.

Related

• Lopez, author of The Soloist, was the keynote speaker at AHCJ’s 2008 Urban Health Journalism Workshop.
• Covering Health: Feds issue guidance on medical marijuana