Iowans 4 Medical Cannabis group forms to lobby for safe, regulated medical marijuana access

DES MOINES — A new coalition calling itself Iowans 4 Medical Cannabis has formed to promote safe and regulated access to medical cannabis for Iowa patients suffering from a variety of medical conditions.

Individuals and parents with children suffering from chronic conditions that could be treated with medical cannabis said Tuesday the Iowa law passed last legislative session and signed by Gov. Terry Branstad does not go far enough in providing the desired access to marijuana-derived cannabis oil.

The law allows Iowans with intractable epilepsy to treat their conditions legally with medical cannabis oil, but coalition members told a Statehouse news conference Tuesday that Iowans still cannot safely, affordably, and legally get medical cannabis in other states.

'We appreciate the effort of the Legislature for working with us and listening to our stories,' said Sally Gaer, a West Des Moines woman who daughter, Margaret, suffers with intractable epilepsy. 'They gave us hope. Unfortunately not one single patient or family has been able to get the medicine they so desperately need. Clearly the law is not working.'

Part of the problem, according to coalition members, is the state-issued medical cannabis 'cards' needed are not yet available. Also, they say, 23 states have legalized the sale of medicinal cannabis but access is almost exclusively is limited to in-state residents — not Iowans.

Speakers at Tuesday's event said the Iowa law in its current form doesn't work for families who are hoping to alleviate the pain and suffering of their loved ones. Coalition members support legislation that will allow controlled access to safe, affordable medical cannabis within Iowa to reduce the suffering of Iowan's living with debilitating chronic conditions.

The speakers said that policies they would like to see change include the establishment of controlled Iowa production, processing, testing, and dispensing of cannabis for medical purposes in the state, creating a Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee within the Iowa Department of Public Health comprised of medical professionals who would monitor the program and determine what medical conditions would benefit from access to medical cannabis in Iowa.

The group is also lobbying to change the cannabis classification from a schedule 1 controlled substance to one that recognizes its medicinal benefits and allows for academic research and medical use in Iowa.