Time to debate medical marijuana

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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State lawmakers should stop hiding in the political weeds and debate legislation allowing the legal, limited medical use of marijuana.

Just before Thanksgiving, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy voted 6-0 to send a bill to the Statehouse that would place marijuana among Schedule II controlled substances that can be prescribed by doctors. Schedule II includes narcotic pain killers and other substances the state closely controls. Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I substance, meaning its use is not allowed for any purpose.

The bill also removes language from the Iowa code that makes it unclear who has the power to make such decisions about which drugs are legal, the pharmacy board or the Legislature. The bill puts that power squarely in the hands of elected lawmakers.

The pharmacy board spent months gathering testimony, both from experts and from everyday Iowans, on the merits and pitfalls of allowing medical use. The board heard from many people with chronic, painful conditions who get relief by using marijuana. Many have suffered severe side effects from powerful, legal prescription drugs.

After gathering that information, the board concluded that these Iowans should be allowed to access marijuana prescribed by a physician under strict guidelines. We agree, and have said so previously.

Unfortunately, Iowa lawmakers have found the politics of the issue to be too painful. Democrats who ran the Legislature last session tried to avoid the issue by tossing it back to the unelected board. Now, Republicans, poised to take over the Iowa House, and incoming Gov. Terry Branstad say they're not interested in taking up the issue.

It's unfortunate that our political leaders can't seem to separate the plight of Iowans in pain from their political concerns about being portrayed as somehow soft on crime if they allow medical use.

Iowans, it seems, are able to understand the difference between medical use and legalization. An Iowa Poll published by The Des Moines Register this year showed 64 percent of Iowans favor making it legal for marijuana to be prescribed. But 70 percent oppose blanket legalization.

It's possible for Iowa to create a medical use program with tight controls and rigorous oversight. Lawmakers could thoughtfully address the issue and come up with beneficial legislation setting out clear rules on how medical marijuana will be dispensed. We don't have to be like California, where lax rules make medical marijuana widely available. Fifteen states now allow marijuana for medical uses.

The pharmacy board has done its job. Now it's the Legislature's turn. Debate the bill.