Dr. calls for Regus to apologise to clients

After renting an office for 2 1/2 years, a New Jersey doctor who makes patient referrals for medical marijuana has had his lease terminated by Regus. It was cited that his practice violated company policy, despite his business conforming with state law. The doctor also claimed that the building manager and security guard violated his patients' confidentiality and publicly humiliated them when they arrived for appointments shortly after the lease was terminated.

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Anthony Anzalone, one of the most prolific prescribers of medical marijuana in New Jersey, is seen in this file photo at what used to be his medical office in East Rutherford.

(Bob Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger)

TRENTON -- Physician Anthony Anzalone never hid the fact he had built a practice around the state's medical marijuana program. His website's domain name is drmarijuananj.com. His billboard ads identify him as "NJ Green MD."

But after 2-1/2 years as a tenant in an East Rutherford office building, Anzalone lost his lease -- and, he says, it's because of how he makes a living.

Regus, a provider of furnished office space in 900 cities and 120 countries, terminated Anzalone's lease. The company has refused to let him rent space by the day, saying it violated company policy. He said the manager told him he would not be allowed back in the building.

"I was told they don't want to be involved with medical marijuana. I told them no medication has ever been dispensed here -- I just consult," Anzalone said.

State law limits the sale of marijuana for medicinal purposes to the dispensaries that grow it. There are five dispensaries in New Jersey.

Physicians who register with the program refer a patient by attesting he or she has one of the qualifying medical conditions, according to the law. Doctors must also new able to prove they have a "bona fide" treating relationship with the patient.

Formerly a gynecologist, Anzalone has made patient referrals for medical marijuana the sole focus of his practice, which he says thrives because his fees are reasonable and his staff help patients complete the state application. He has referred 700 patients to the program, which currently has about 6,000 members.

Anzalone asserted that the Regus manager and a security guard embarrassed his patients and violated their confidentiality when they came in for appointments on April 4.

"They were stopped at the desk and loudly told medical marijuana patients cannot be seen in this building any more. They were publicly humiliated," he said.

A Regus representative declined to discuss why Anzalone was barred from the Rutherford property, located on Meadowlands Parkway.

"He is no longer a client with Regus. We don't discuss the terms of client agreements," said Lisa Seemon, the area vice president for New Jersey, Delaware & New York. "Mr. Anzalone has no agreements with Regus in any center."

Actually, Anzelone said, Regus continues to allow him to rent office space on a daily basis in Woodbridge and Neptune. Seemon did not respond to an email questioning the doctor's arrangement at these other locations.

On Thursday, Seemon emailed the doctor and denied his request to see the Regus policy that led to his removal. She offered to meet with him.

"Unfortunately, we don't make it a practice of providing our internal policies outside to review," according to Seemon's email, provided to NJ Advance Media. "As I had mentioned before, we do have obligations in our lease, with our individual landlords and other regulations we must abide by. As such, we are unable to provide any office product, day office, mail box, virtual office or alike in any Regus center."

Despite state law, marijuana remains a schedule 1 drug, meaning it is treated by federal authorities as harmful and having no medicinal benefit. Possession and sale of marijuana is against federal law, as well as state law unless it is by patients who are registered with the program.

Anzalone now rents space inside the Meadowlands Hilton next door. It's an arrangement his patients say they like, and the hotel manager welcomes his business, he said. A call from the Hilton's general manager was not returned yesterday.

"(Regus) forced me out of there, and I have landed on my feet," Anzalone said. "But they owe my patients an apology."

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.