State Dismisses Criminal Charges against Psychiatrist Zinia Sue Thomas; Medical Licenses Suspended

September 6, 2024

On April 19, 2024, the Butler County (Missouri) Prosecuting Attorney dismissed criminal charges against psychiatrist Zinia Sue Thomas for two felony counts of “Delivery of Controlled Substance Except 35 Grams or Less of Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoid.”

The charges were based on Thomas' arrest in early September 2022 for possession of large amounts of cannabis and ecstasy.

Thomas is known in Missouri for approving medical marijuana cards. A 2019 news report by KMOV (Columbia, MO) stated that KMOV crewmembers went undercover to the Festus, Missouri stop of Thomas’ “Cannibus tour” (a traveling clinic visited by people seeking prescriptions for medical marijuana). The crew filled out forms and though they were never seen personally by Thomas, she diagnosed one of them with a debilitating psychiatric disorder, to qualify them for a medical marijuana card--something she did for all in attendance that day.

In addition to Missouri, Thomas held active medical licenses in Colorado, Florida, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah at the time. However, most of these licenses have now been suspended or revoked: 

• On February 28, 2023, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) suspended Thomas’ license. DORA’s document states that “the Board reviewed a complaint and media report that you were illegally in possession of a large amount of marijuana and ecstasy pills and that you qualified patients’ medical marijuana cards...by diagnosing them with certain conditions without seeing the patients in question.” The Board subsequently ordered Thomas to “submit to a mental or physical examination,” which she failed to do.

• On November 14, 2023, the Utah Division of Professional Licensing suspended Thomas’ medical license based on the grounds for suspension of her Colorado license.

• On February 15, 2024, the Florida Board of Medicine suspended Thomas' license based on the same facts as found in the Colorado license suspension. 

• On March 25, 2024, the Missouri State Board for Registration in the Healing Arts revoked Thomas' license on the basis that she had been found to have prescribed ketamine to patients after her controlled substance registration had expired; without conducting proper examinations; and related violations. 

Thomas' Oklahoma medical license expired on February 1, 2023 and was not renewed. Her Texas license expired August 31, 2024. The Texas Medical Board issued an administrative complaint on July 15, 2024 based on the facts as stated in the Colorado license suspension. 

Thomas left Missouri in early 2023. Her LinkedIn page shows that she has modified her named to “Zeenia” Thomas, M.D. and has been based in Orlando, Florida since April 2023.

Source: https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2022/09/10/local-doctor-known-for-giving-medical-marijuana-cards-faces-illegal-drug-charges/; https://www.komu.com/news/state/missouri-doctor-known-for-giving-medical-marijuana-cards-faces-illegal-drug-charges/article_a6316702-041e-5312-8629-a445845f7c5e.html; https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/real/DDMS_documents_api.download?p_file=F648349313/2107629_Page1_196483_53349.pdf; https://db.dopl.utah.gov/disciplinary-actions/2023-364_FF_2023-11-14.pdf; https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22BT-R01338&inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT36#header; https://www.linkedin.com/in/drzees/; Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order of Revocation in Default, Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts v. Zinia Sue Thomas, M.D., Case No. 2021-000493, March 25, 2024; Final Order, State of Florida Board of Medicine, Department of Health v. Zinia Thomas, M.D., Case 2023-09174, License No. ME00147052, February 15, 2024; Complaint in the matter of the Complaint against Zinia Sue Thomas, M.D., License No. T-8668, Before the Texas Medical Board, Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings, Docket No. 503-24-21743, July 15, 2024.