# HIPAA Suggestion **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 28, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391 "2012-11-28T18:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/1 "2012-11-28T18:31:34Z")
I was just being silly yesterday and had a thought that won’t leave my mind. When doctors prescribe marijuana for medicinal use, they should be able to refuse to share their patients’ names when the Feds raid by citing the right to privacy in HIPAA. We can call it the “HIPAA pot among us” clause. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/2 "2012-11-28T18:36:29Z")
… I hate you. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/3 "2012-11-28T18:51:12Z")
The problem is that when marijuana is prescribed to mentally ill patients, they tend to give it away to their friends, or really anyone they consider “nice”. The Feds need to know about this situation, so we would have to add a Sanity Clause. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/4 "2012-11-28T18:52:19Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > I was just being silly yesterday and had a thought that won’t leave my mind. When doctors prescribe marijuana for medicinal use, they should be able to refuse to share their patients’ names when the Feds raid by citing the right to privacy in HIPAA. > > We can call it the “HIPAA pot among us” clause. > [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > The problem is that when marijuana is prescribed to mentally ill patients, they tend to give it away to their friends, or really anyone they consider “nice”. The Feds need to know about this situation, so we would have to add a Sanity Clause. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/5 "2012-11-28T19:03:48Z")
Joe wants to try this, and so does Alice, but does Mary wanna? ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/6 "2012-11-28T22:49:28Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > The problem is that when marijuana is prescribed to mentally ill patients, they tend to give it away to their friends, or really anyone they consider “nice”. The Feds need to know about this situation, so we would have to add a Sanity Clause. You can’t fool me… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/7 "2012-11-29T01:19:16Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > You can’t fool me… There AIN’T no Sanity Clause! ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/8 "2012-11-29T02:47:57Z")
Marijuana isn’t prescribed, you get a recommendation from your doctor that allows you to get a card so you can buy it. At least in California. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/9 "2012-11-29T03:19:07Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > We can call it the “HIPAA pot among us” clause. You are my new favorite person. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/10 "2012-11-29T03:37:48Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Marijuana isn’t prescribed, you get a recommendation from your doctor that allows you to get a card so you can buy it. At least in California. I don’t get it… ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/11 "2012-11-29T04:18:18Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I don’t get it… [https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/medical-marijuana-recommendations/medical-marijuana-prescription-vs-medical-marijuana-recommendation-whats-difference](https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/medical-marijuana-recommendations/medical-marijuana-prescription-vs-medical-marijuana-recommendation-whats-difference) The OP described it as a prescription, but it is not. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/12 "2012-11-29T04:22:17Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > [https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/medical-marijuana-recommendations/medical-marijuana-prescription-vs-medical-marijuana-recommendation-whats-difference](https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/medical-marijuana-recommendations/medical-marijuana-prescription-vs-medical-marijuana-recommendation-whats-difference) > > The OP described it as a prescription, but it is not. The other posts were jokes. I think he’s pretending your serious post was a joke he didn’t get. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/13 "2012-11-29T04:28:36Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > The other posts were jokes. I think he’s pretending your serious post was a joke he didn’t get. Either way. Jokes are better when they’re factually accurate. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/14 "2012-11-29T04:33:02Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > Either way. Jokes are better when they’re factually accurate. 😉 True enough! ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/15 "2012-11-29T12:45:04Z")
pre·scribe - **Recommend** (a substance or action) as something beneficial. So, nothing factually inaccurate here. You even send the doctors recommend it. Thanks for playing though 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/16 "2012-11-29T15:31:27Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > pre·scribe - **Recommend** (a substance or action) as something beneficial. > > So, nothing factually inaccurate here. You even send the doctors recommend it. > > Thanks for playing though 😃 Yes it is inaccurate. It is not legally possible to prescribe Ina medical sense. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/17 "2012-11-29T16:55:23Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > The problem is that when marijuana is prescribed to mentally ill patients, they tend to give it away to their friends, or really anyone they consider “nice”. The Feds need to know about this situation, so we would have to add a Sanity Clause. It’s worse than that. Some anesthesiologists have been found to be trading inhalants for sexual favors from Playboy models. So we have to contend with ether bunnies as well. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/18 "2012-11-29T17:21:25Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > It’s worse than that. Some anesthesiologists have been found to be trading inhalants for sexual favors from Playboy models. So we have to contend with ether bunnies as well. Bravo!!! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/19 "2012-12-01T02:23:32Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > There AIN’T no Sanity Clause! Well, there is, but only in Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391/20 "2012-12-01T03:10:06Z")
I’d find something to say against this, but that would be HIPAA-critical. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hipaa-suggestion/642391.md?page=2)