iowa medical cannabis Archives

Iowa Legislature Approves Measure Legalizing Distribution of Medical Cannabis Oil

April 22, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

In a last-minute deal Iowa lawmakers gave approval today to legislation to expand the state’s limited medical cannabis oil law that passed in 2014.

House File 524 was approved by the House today at 3am (83 to 11), and was passed by the Senate exactly four hours later (33 to 7), sending it to Governor Terry Branstad for final consideration. The proposal would legalize the production and distribution of cannabis oil for those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a physician. Licensed dispensaries would be established to safely distribute the medicine to patients.

“There are many, many citizens, literally thousands of citizens, that could benefit from the use of this medication,” says Representative John Forbes, a Democratic pharmacist who voted in favor of the measure. “They’ll have access now to a treatment for debilitating diseases that are not very well treated sometimes with conventional medicine.”

Iowa Senate Votes to Legalize Medical Marijuana

April 18, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

A bill to legalize medical marijuana has been passed by Iowa’s Senate.

Senate File 506 was passed Monday with a 45 to 5 vote, sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration. The proposal would drastically expand a state law that allows the medical use of cannabis oil to allow for the possession, use and licensed distribution of cannabis and cannabis products for those with a recommendation from a physician.

“I think this is the right thing to do,” says Senator. Matt McCoy (D), who noted that many supporters of the measure have died waiting for it to be passed into law. Senate File 506 is referred to as The Compassionate Use of Cannabis Act. The bipartisan measure was supported by 25 Republicans (4 opposed), 19 Democrats (one opposed) and the only independent.

Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill Passed by Iowa Senate

April 16, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

The Iowa Senate voted Wednesday to pass Senate File 484, which would establish a comprehensive medical cannabis program that includes a system of state-licensed manufacturing centers and dispensaries.

Under the proposed law, the Iowa Department of Health would be in charge of regulating and licensing medical cannabis dispensaries and production centers, and would be required to license these outlets by April 1st, 2016. To have their application accepted, dispensaries must agree to open by July 1st of the same year

Bill to Legalize Medical Cannabis Approved by Iowa’s Senate Ways and Means Committee

March 27, 2015March 27, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

A proposal to legalize the medical use of cannabis, and to establish a system of dispensaries to distribute the medicine, has been approved by Iowa’s Senate Ways and Means Committee. The measure was approved earlier this month by the state’s Senate Human Resources Committee.

If approved into law, the Senate Study Bill 1243 would allow for the possession and use of medical cannabis by those with a qualifying medical condition who have received a recommendation from a physician. Qualifying conditions would include cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, post traumatic stress disorder, hepatitis C, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately the proposal would prohibit patients from actually smoking cannabis, meaning they’ll need to consume their medicine through tinctures, oils and vaping.

Iowa Senate Committee Approves Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill

March 13, 2015March 12, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

Iowa’s Senate Human Resources Committee has approved a bill to legalize the possession and distribution of cannabis for medical purposes.

The measure would go considerably further than a medical cannabis bill approved by lawmakers in 2014, which allows for the possession and use of CBD (cannabidiol) oil for those with epilepsy, but doesn’t authorize a means for patients to legally procure the medicine. This new proposal would legalize more than just CBD oil by allowing those with multiple conditions, including HIV/AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis, to possess and use cannabis.

Iowa Senate Committee Approves Bill Reducing Penalty for Cannabis Possession

February 12, 2015February 11, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

The Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13 to 1 Tuesday to approve Senate Study Bill 1121, which would significantly reduce the penalty for the possession of small amounts of cannabis.

If approved into law, the proposal would reduce the penalty for the possession of up to 5 grams of cannabis to a simple misdemeanor with a maximum jail sentence of 30 days, down from a serious misdemeanor which can result in a 6 month jail sentence.

“I think you have members of both parties right now willing to look at some of our criminal sentences and make some common sense reforms to help control some of the costs in the system,” says Senator Jack Whitver.