Iowa Governor Signs Measure Legalizing Distribution of Medical Marijuana Oil
Legislation to greatly expand Iowa’s restrictive medical marijuana law has been signed by Governor Terry Branstad.
In 2014 Iowa passed a law allowing for the medical use of low-THC marijuana oil; however, the law didn’t establish a legal means for patients to obtain the medicine. House File 524 expands upon this law by increasing the number of qualifying conditions and legalizing licensed dispensaries authorized to distribute marijuana medicines such as tinctures and oils to patients.
House File 524 was signed into law Monday by Governor Branstad. The proposal was approved overwhelmingly in both the House of Representatives (83 to 11) and Senate (33 to 7).
The Department of Public Health will now be authorized to approve up to two manufacturers and up to five distributors if cannabis oil. The cannabis oil will be limited to containing no more than 3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Qualifying conditions under the new law includes cancer, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
A medical Cannabidiol Advisory Board would be established within the Department of Public Health to recommend adding or removing qualifying conditions.