Scores of Men Try to Land Gynecologist Appointment

A Pennsylvania gynecologist saw a huge uptick in calls for appointments. Only one problem: It was primarily men on the line. The flurry of calls began after Dr. Liang Bartkowiak was named in an Altoona Mirror article as the first doctor in Altoona eligible to certify medical marijuana users. And then the requests for appointments began—mostly coming from men, though Bartkowiak sees female patients exclusively.

Bartkowiak tells the paper she was "shocked," and explains that the opioid crisis inspired her in part to sign up for the 4-hour training session she completed as part of her certification. She says she has patients dealing with extreme pain from endometriosis and gynecological surgeries, and wanted an alternative to opioids to offer to them. The AP explains that since 2016, Pennsylvania has approved 17 conditions that qualify for a medical marijuana prescription. Marijuana pills, oils, vapor, or liquids have been approved; the plant form has not. (New York is considering pot for women suffering "in silence.")