Meet Morton Sacks, M.D.
With nearly 50 years of overall medical practice, Dr. Mort Sacks is a medical professional who specializes in the administration and management of ketamine treatments for various medical conditions, particularly mental health disorders. He has received specialized training and certification to work with ketamine for therapeutic purposes.​
​
As a specialist in medical cannabis evaluations for over 15 years, Dr. Sacks has enjoyed being able to provide personalized and comprehensive evaluations and instructions to his patients for the effective utilization of medical cannabis in treating a wide range of ailments.
A Santa Barbara native for over 30 years, Dr. Sacks enjoys the opportunity to make personal connections with his patients at his Santa Barbara office, and to formulate a personalized treatment that best suits their needs.
Education & Medical Career
-
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles
-
Medical School – University of Southern California
-
Residency – Kaiser Hospital of Los Angeles
-
Two years in the US Army Medical Corps
-
Practiced OB/GYN medicine for 33 years
-
Certified in anti-aging medicine
-
Member of leading organizations dedicated to clinical cannabinoid medicine (Society for Cannabis Clinicians, and American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine)
What is ketamine therapy?
Ketamine therapy, also known as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy or ketamine treatment, is a medical approach that involves the controlled and monitored administration of the drug ketamine to address various mental health conditions. Initially developed as an anesthetic and pain reliever, ketamine has gained recognition for its unique and rapid antidepressant effects.
​
In the context of mental health, ketamine therapy is primarily used to treat treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder, and other mood disorders.
It has also shown promising results in managing anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and certain chronic pain conditions.
​
The therapy is typically administered under the supervision of trained medical professionals in a clinical setting. Ketamine can be delivered through different routes, such as intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), intranasal (IN), and sublingual (under the tongue) formulations. The dosage and frequency of treatments may vary depending on the individual's condition and response to the therapy.
​
Ketamine works by modulating certain neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly glutamate, which is involved in mood regulation. Unlike traditional antidepressants, which may take weeks to show noticeable effects, ketamine often produces rapid improvements in mood, sometimes within hours or days after administration.
Scientific Research and Articles
-
PubMed (pubmed.gov): A free search engine accessing primarily the MEDLINE database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. You can find numerous research papers on the use of ketamine in psychotherapy.
-
The American Journal of Psychiatry (ajp.psychiatryonline.org): The journal has several peer-reviewed articles on the subject.
-
National Institute of Mental Health (nimh.nih.gov): The NIMH provides updates on current research, including work involving ketamine.
Professional Organizations
-
American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists and Practitioners (askp.org): This is a group of professionals dedicated to the safe clinical use of ketamine for mental health disorders and pain conditions.
-
The Ketamine Research Foundation (ketamineresearchfoundation.org): This organization focuses on supporting and promoting research into the use of ketamine for treating various conditions.
Clinics and Providers
-
Ketamine Clinics Directory (ketamineclinicsdirectory.com): A directory of clinics worldwide that offer ketamine therapy.
-
The Ketamine Advocacy Network (ketamineadvocacynetwork.org): This site includes a directory of providers and maintains a set of standards for ketamine treatment.
Books
-
"The Ketamine Papers" edited by Phil Wolfson MD and Glenn Hartelius Ph.D.: This is a comprehensive look at the emerging field of ketamine therapy from a variety of clinical perspectives.
Confidentiality
Receiving a recommendation from Morton Sacks, MD is completely confidential.
​
Patient-doctor confidentiality is absolute, and your information as a patient is never released without your written consent.
FAQs
Is your service legal?
Yes, Dr. Sacks' services are perfectly legal. Dr. Morton Sacks is a California licensed physician, whose doctor's license can be verified on the California Medical Board website.
Who qualifies for a medical cannabis recommendation?
Anyone over the age of 18 who possesses a form of government-issued photo identification (ex: driver's license, passport), can prove residency in the state of California, and believes that medical cannabis will help to alleviate their symptoms or medical conditions, is eligible for an evaluation with Dr. Sacks. Proposition 215 states that you may be eligible for medical cannabis "if you suffer from AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, spasticity, seizures or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief."*
​
To qualify for a grower's limit exemption, patients must be at least 21 years old.
​
*Other illnesses and conditions include, but are not limited to: pain, headache, back/neck pain, PMS, injuries, neuropathy, IBS, Fibromyalgia, difficulty sleeping, nausea, lack of appetite, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, and asthma.
What do I need for an online appointment?
Appointments for both new and returning patients may be conducted virtually via our telemedicine app, Zoom or FaceTime. Returning patients have the additional option of renewing by phone. For those patients who prefer to be seen in person, Dr. Sacks is available to meet in the Santa Barbara area.
For your appointment, you will need:
-
A computer with a camera and microphone, tablet or smartphone
-
Reliable internet connection
-
A valid government-issued photo ID (ex: driver's license, passport)
If you would like to add on a Medical Marijuana ID Card (a wallet-sized, plasticized card with your medical cannabis recommendation on it), you will also need to include a current photo of yourself during registration that will be printed on your card.
For smartphone users:
You may easily use your smartphone for this process by downloading our personal app, available for both iPhone and Android.
You will be prompted to download the Sazani Clinic app, which is the telemedicine application Morton Sacks, MD utilizes, when you start the recommendation process on a mobile device.
​
Telemedicine hours:
Monday through Friday
10am—6pm​
​
***PLEASE NOTE: Once you click the link below—if you have already created an account with eVisit in the past, you will need to select the 'I already have an account' option below the 'Register' button to avoid receiving an error message. Receiving an error message? Click here for a walkthrough.​
Do you accept appointments?
Dr. Sacks does accept appointments. Feel free to call our office at 805-898-2288 to make an appointment, or book an appointment online.
Will I need to renew my recommendation?
Dr. Sacks' letter of recommendation for medical cannabis use is valid for one (1) year from the date of issue. At the end of the one year period, you will need to have a follow up visit with Dr. Sacks via phone, our telemedicine app, Zoom or FaceTime to evaluate whether medical cannabis is proving effective at treating your condition, and to determine if any changes to your treatment need to be made.
What if I was a Santa Barbara-based patient of Dr. Sazani?
If you have been a long-time patient of Sazani Clinic, rest assured—Dr. Sacks worked with Dr. Sazani for many years, and has treated many of the patients who came through Sazani Clinic during that time. Though associates, Dr. Sacks has inherited the Santa Barbara practice. Returning patients can expect no interruptions in their care, and a continuing commitment by Dr. Sacks to ensure quality, compassionate medical cannabis evaluations.
Contact
Office Phone
805-898-2288
Text
805-680-2007
Doctor's Hours for Online Appointments
Monday through Friday
10am – 6pm