DES MOINES – The Iowa Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that allows some sick Iowans to use medical cannabis.
The Iowa Senate passed, on a 45-5 vote, SF506, dubbed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act. Democrats say the bill would help for Iowans with cancer and debilitating conditions. This reclassifies marijuana, including tetrahydrocannabinol, from a schedule I controlled substance to a schedule II controlled substance, making it legal.
Those with a debilitating medical condition approved for use of medical cannabis will need to carry a valid medical cannabis registration card in order to transport the substance.
If the bill passes the Republican-led House and is signed by the Governor, the state of Iowa would license manufacturers to “possess, cultivate, transport or supply medical cannabis” and then the drug would have to be picked up at a licensed dispensary.
The smoking of marijuana is banned in the bill, but the following diseases or medical conditions are covered for patients to pursue use of medical marijuana:
- Cancer (if the underlying condition or treatment produces one or more of the following: Intractable pain, Nausea or severe vomiting; Cachexia or severe wasting
- Multiple sclerosis
- Epilepsy or seizure disorders
- AIDS or HIV
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Any terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of under one year, if the illness or its treatment produces one or more of the following: intractable pain, nausea or severe vomiting, cachexia or severe wasting
- Intractable pain
- Parkinson’s disease
- Muscular dystrophy
- Huntington’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Complex regional pain syndrome (type I and II)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Polyarteritis nodosa
Democratic Senator Joe Bolkcom says the final outcome of the bill hinges on Clear Lake Republican Representative Linda Upmeyer.
“In 2015, the Iowa Senate approved a comprehensive Medicaid cannabis program by a one-vote margin with the support of 25 Democrats and one Republican. Today, similar legislation was approved by a vote of 45 to 5. The support is there in the Iowa House to pass this bill if House Speaker Linda Upmeyer allows it to come up for a vote. Twenty-nine states already have comprehensive medical cannabis laws. Iowans who want access to effective medicines should call House Speaker Upmeyer as soon as possible.”
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Center for Disease Control numbers of deaths per year in the USA
* Prescription Drugs: 237,485 + 5000 traffic fatalities
* Tobacco: 390,323
* Alcohol: 88,013 + 16,000 traffic fatalities
* Cocaine: 4,906
* Heroin: 7,200
* Aspirin: 466
* Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 179
* Marijuana: 0, none, not a single fatal overdose in all medical history and almost no traffic problems.
It may help me for instance. I have health issues from being in desert storm. But it may be safer than strong pain meds.
Is it possible to add the phone number Iowans should call? Very informative article just missing that one little component.
The three worst legislators in our state: Steve King, Linda Upmeyer, & Gov Branstad. The majority of Iowans (by far) want medical marijuana. These three people are supposed to work for their constituents. It’s time they listened!
If this helps people they should approve it.
Permission from the oligarchs not needed for me. I’ll keep using medical marijuana for anxiety and depression no matter what the legal status because for me, it works.