On 30 May 2014, Terry Branstad, the Iowa governor, signed into law SF 2360. This piece of legislation allowed the possession, sale, and use of “CBD” or “cannabis oil” that contains no more than 3% by mass of THC, as a treatment for epilepsy. Thus, the door has been opened for medical marijuana in the state. SF 2360 was among a wave of legislation that has swept across the continental United States over the last several years.
There is a growing acceptance by the mainstream medical industry for use of cannabis as a legitimate treatment for a number of different conditions and symptoms. While in the case of Iowa, the law initially only allowed for marijuana to be used in cases of epilepsy and required the patient to present with a note of recommendation from a neurologist, it was an important first step.
SF 2360
As reported by themonitordaily.com In March of this year, the state legislature approved a bill which extended SF 2360 indefinitely, a resounding endorsement of the success of the program thus far. While there seems to be almost unanimous agreement that the current program is proving to be successful, as severe epilepsy can be extremely debilitating and the use of CBD dramatically improves symptoms, there is hesitation in some corners to expand the list of approved conditions.
It is also worth noting that, while the success rate has been very high, only 132 people have obtained registry cards since the bill was passed. Despite polls suggesting widespread support for expanding the program among the general population, the political will appears to be lacking. That could be about to change though as a new dimension has been added to the debate.
Attracting Investors
The Iowa Legislature has expressed an interest in expanding the program to allow a handful of manufacturers and distributors to set up businesses in the state to grow, produce, and sell marijuana and products containing approved extracts thereof, earlier this spring. It is widely expected the Legislature will shortly introduce a bill that expands the list of approved conditions beyond epilepsy.
Randy Mayer is the administrator at the Iowa Health Department. In a recent interview, he cited 50 as the number of businesspeople who have approached the department and expressed an interest in applying for the necessary licensing to become an approved manufacturer or distributor.
The Future
The economic imperative could sway the last few dissenting voices in the Iowa Legislature, especially as other states that have implemented much broader medical marijuana programs and continue to report that their own laws have been successful in boosting local economies and improving the lives of many patients.
Interestingly, the current situation in Iowa still doesn’t allow for the production of cannabis, and so even though those with medical marijuana cards are protected legally if they are found in possession of otherwise illegal cannabis products, they have no guarantee of access.
The federal government still takes the official view that marijuana has no accepted medical use, but this view is rapidly shifting. Attitudes among the general public and the medical profession have favored some degree of legalization for a while now and the tide seems to be moving towards total decriminalization.
O.K how are the sorcerers and gatekeepers for Satan going to spin their way out of this, oh all of the sudden THC is medicinal oh after they have arrested nearly the entire world for using it, I see long over due class action law suits in their/sorcerers future, what a bunch of losers and order followers they have no knowledge of botany yet they follow their masters scripted orders, oh that’s right they/sorcerers need to make a clean transition/un detectable to the asleep sheep/masses, from controlling their $ making operations of field to street into oh it’s legal street and we’re here with our smiley faces ready to open up shops, of course owned by them, all phony how are they possibly going to compensate for all of the lives they have destroyed and people they have crucified through their hypocritical laws about a harmless plant, also these same do gooder’s apparently believe giving pedophiles a pat on the back and some counseling before they send them back out on the streets to make more victims are A o.k. with them, personally I do not give a hoot what a person decides to digest I do give a hoot about their lax attitude towards pedophiles reflected by their laws, in my view that is a serious universal law being broke and goes completely ignored, why are the laws lax concerning pedophiles the powers to be are pedophiles themselves they do not want strict laws they do not care about youngsters they want as many of them messed up/fractured brains as possible, also there is no $ in it, all phony looking forward to the day these phony hypocrites face the White throne Judgement of the Creator. Also go eat some more cupcakes, TA.
Here we go. Very big dollars involved in legalization for the state. Way more money than gambling. We’re talking billions! Let see the state lottery brought in 800 million last year perhaps. The only thing that will be bigger of the ‘vice taxes’ is booze.
Well, this proves all those people wrong who have insisted to me that this was now going to be legal for anyone suffering from chronic pain and other conditions. It is only legal for epilepsy.