Cannabidiol law reviewed at Iowa City meeting

The complexities of the state's new narrow medical marijuana law and seasonal fears about mosquito-borne illnesses were two issues the Iowa State Board of Health addressed Wednesday during a meeting at the new State Hygienic Laboratory in Iowa City.

The board reviews public health issues within the state and then offers recommendations to the Iowa Department of Public Health and state officials.

Deborah Thompson, policy adviser for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said she couldn't 'really speak to how” Iowans would be able to procure a marijuana byproduct to treat certain forms of epilepsy.

Under Iowa law, it is not legal to produce or sell cannabidiol within the state. Those receiving permits to use cannabidiol will need to find it outside of Iowa.

Thompson explained to the board that the cannabidiol law, which went into effect on July 1, requires an individual to go through multiple steps, including obtaining a written recommendation from a neurologist, receiving approval from the Iowa Department of Public Health and then actually getting the permit from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Thompson said the permits would be issued via that agency because the DOT has offices in every county, and has the ability to easily connect with law enforcement. She also said that the narrowness of the law, including the permits' duration and narrow prescription authority came about because of concerns of state legislators about the possibility that legalized cannabidiol would be abused.

'You would have a lot of disappointed hippies,” said Thompson on the concern that some might try to use cannabidiol to get high. This is because cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive product of marijuana that is low in the THC. Thompson said in order to get any form of high from cannabidiol, an individual would have to consume an amount that would make them ill.

Also Wednesday, Patricia Quinlisk, medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, told board members that there has been one confirmed case of West Nile virus this season. She also said that people should not be concerned about an outbreak because of the recent floods. explaining that mosquitoes that often carry West Nile prefer hot and dry weather.

Quinlisk said that the peak of West Nile season often comes closer to September, when many people begin to apply repellent less frequently. She also said that West Nile isn't the only concern, with diseases such as Chikungunya making more frequent appearances.

Chikungunya, which many Americans traveling to the Caribbean are bringing back to the states, has no treatment and Quinlisk said is more serious than West Nile.

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