NorthIowaToday.com

Founded in 2010

News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region

Medical cannabis bill passes Iowa Senate

Cannabis oil

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.

Iowa capitol

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.

Linda Upmeyer cuddles Sarah Palin

“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.”

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

30 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Even more news:

Copyright 2024 – Internet Marketing Pros. of Iowa, Inc.
30
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x