MedPharm Iowa concerned about future of state's patients, CBD legislation KCCI Updated: 9:39 PM CDT Aug 1, 2019
DES MOINES, Iowa — Advocates for medical cannabis in Iowa are trying to open up CBD, or cannabidiol, to patients with a broader range of medical conditions.
CBD sales became legal late last year. While CBD is found in products such as marijuana and hemp, it does not have THC, the psychoactive element.
MedPharm Iowa, a dispensary, said it’s had approximately 6,000 patient transactions at its locations since the program launched late last year.
“There is really no time left,” to change Iowa's laws regarding CBD use, said Lucas Nelson, MedPharm Iowa's general manager.
Nelson gave this warning at a news conference Thursday unveiling the company’s new vaporizing products and giving an update on the company’s progress since CBD sales became legal.
He claims the big threat comes from the other side of the Mississippi River. Illinois passed a bill allowing recreational marijuana starting in 2020. It allows anyone 21 or older to purchase marijuana.
“Patients have told us they’ll be leaving our program to go over to Illinois despite some of the risks,” Nelson said.
The risk being marijuana will still remain illegal in Iowa.
He said Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of a bill loosening restrictions on CBD means Iowa’s current program could be a lot less attractive to Iowans needing treatment. Those Iowans might simply drive over the border.
Nelson worries it will put MedPharm and the program in jeopardy.
“I worry that what it will ultimately result in is no medical cannabis available for patients across the entire state,” Nelson said.
He said the company is looking ahead to Friday when the state’s CBD board will meet to consider the company’s petitions to add three qualifying conditions: PTSD, opioid dependency and “severe or chronic” pain.
“We’re really going to encourage the board and thereby Gov. Reynolds and the legislators to step up and hear from patients,” Nelson said.
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