We are the last state in the nation that requires extracts to be used in products.
By Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
Iowa medical cannabis producers told Iowa legislators Tuesday that allowing raw cannabis flowers to be sold in the state’s program for medical cannabidiol would lower costs for patients.
Representatives of state agencies, who spoke to a House Subcommittee at the meeting, said that this change could have a negative impact on law enforcement and road safety.
A three-member Iowa subcommittee advanced House Study Bill 532- on Tuesday. The bill would amend Iowa’s definition for “medical cannabis” to include oral, topical, and inhalable forms of cannabis — including raw cannabis flower.
Dane Schumann is a lobbyist for MedPharm Iowa. One of the companies licensed to produce medical marijuana in Iowa. He said that the current Iowa Code mandates medical cannabis products be extracted. This means that manufacturers will grow marijuana plants and extract the active compounds, known as CBD or THC, from these crops to create a product for sale through the medical cannabis program.
Schumann stated that this process is expensive, and MedPharm was urging a change to the language in order to allow other forms of cannabis. This would reduce costs for patients.
Schumann stated that “we are the only states in the United States who still require extracts to be used in their products.” “Other states have stopped requiring this because it is very expensive for patients to have to purchase that,” Schumann said.
He said that the recommendation was based upon medical cannabis programs in similar states, such as Utah, with populations who allow the sale and use of vaporized flowers products.
Catherine Lucas, General Counsel with the Iowa Department of Public Service said that while the department doesn’t take a position in support or opposition to the legislation, legislators should expect a rise in the number of people enrolling for medical marijuana programs when vaporized flower product become available. She said that Minnesota’s medical marijuana program increased from 20,000 patients to 100,000 after the addition of flower products.
A report released by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services in October found that Iowa’s patient card program has about 18,000 active cards.
Rep. Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham, said that while he understood concerns over the potential expansion of the program he looked forward to future discussion on the availability cannabis products for patients with cards.
Shipley explained. “And if it’s health care they want, and if a doctor has told them to get that, who am I to stop them?” Shipley said.
Lucas also expressed concern that the use of vaporized products in the medical program may lead to increased accidents and fatalities on Iowa roads as a result of impaired driving. She said that the provision will also create more problems for law enforcement when it comes to upholding Iowa’s recreational marijuana laws. She said that if a law-enforcement officer found cannabis flower on a participant in Iowa’s Medical Cannabidiol Program they would not be able to determine if the product was purchased legally or from a “dealer” on the streets.
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She said that if they had a medical card it was a “get out of prison free” card.
She said that expanding the definition would increase drug trafficking and deter the law enforcement agencies from pursuing cannabis cases.
The bill has been approved by the subcommittee. It will now be reviewed by the House Public Safety Committee. Rep. Hans Wilz, R-Ottumwa, told speakers there would likely be changes to the bill in future meetings.
This article was originally published by Iowa Capital Dispatch.
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The article Iowa bill would expand state medical cannabis program to include raw flower first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
