iowa Archives - TheJointBlog

Industrial Hemp Bill Passed by Iowa Senate

April 4, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation to allow hemp to be legally grown in Iowa has been passed by the state’s full Senate.

The Senate approved Senate File 2398 today in a unanimous 49 to 0 vote. Filed by Senator Tom Shipley, the measure would allow hemp to be grown by farmers and researched by state regents universities and the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

The proposed law would create the Industrial Hemp Council, which would consist of seven members representing the Department of Agriculture, production agriculture, the state university system, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Safety, in addition to non-voting members from the legislature.

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.

Iowa Marijuana Possession Laws

August 2, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Iowa Marijuana Possession Laws:

Any amount not deemed for distribution purposes – 1st offense:

Penalty: Misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail and/or a maximum fine of $1,000.

Any amount not deemed for distribution purposes – 2nd offense:

Penalty: Misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail and/or a maximum fine of $1,875.

Any amount not deemed for distribution purposes – 3rd and subsequent offenses:

Penalty: Aggravated misdemeanor with up to 2 years in prison, and/or a maximum fine of $6,250.

For further information on Iowa marijuana laws – including penalties for distribution and cultivation – click here. For recent updates to Iowa’s marijuana possession laws and other Iowa-related stories, click here.

Iowa Democratic Party Makes Legalizing All Drugs an Official Party Platform

June 23, 2016June 23, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

In a surprise move, the Iowa Democratic Party at their annual convention on Sunday voted to make legalizing all drugs an official party platform, indicating that they support and will work towards it.

In total, the Iowa Democrats adopted 563 official party planks, with “legalizing all drugs” being #293. Although elected Democrats are free to ignore the party’s planks, the planks are meant to serve as a manifesto of sorts in regards to th Democrat’s values, beliefs and goals.

“I was kind of stunned that it got through the convention, but that’s what the convention wanted,” says Mike Robinson, chairman of the platform committee.

Presidential Candidate Ben Carson Would “Intensify” War on Drugs

October 25, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

If elected president of the United States, neurosurgeon Ben Carson would not only continue the nation’s war on drugs, he would “intensify” it.

In a recent interview with Glenn Beck on his radio show, Carson – who is leading second place Donald Trump by 9% in the first voting state of Iowa according to a recent Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll – was asked, if elected president; “Do you continue the war on drugs?”

“Absolutely”, said Carson. Beck responded by asking; “You do?”, which led Carson to say “I intensify it”.

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

87% of Iowa Voters, 86% of Virginia Voters Support Legalizing Medical Cannabis

April 14, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

A new Quinnipiac University poll has found that an overwhelming majority of voters in Virginia and Iowa support legalizing medical cannabis. The poll also found strong support in those states – and Colorado – for the legalization of recreational cannabis.

According to the poll released Tuesday, 87% of voters in Iowa support legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, with just 11% opposed. Support for legalizing recreational cannabis is split evenly, 47% to 47%, with the remaining 6% undecided.

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.