Dwindling chance to modernize Iowa marijuana laws

The opportunity to make historic changes to Iowa's marijuana laws may be going up in smoke.

Lawmakers introduced two important bills this session to bring Iowa's marijuana laws in line with most other states. Following last week's legislative funnel deadline, those bills are now ineligible for debate in the Legislature.

' Senate File 2313 would improve Iowa's heavily restricted medical cannabis program by empowering a state board and the Iowa Department of Public Health to cover additional medical conditions and update the limit on tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis products.

' Senate File 2180 would reduce penalties for first-time marijuana possession, making it a simple misdemeanor offense, which would save the state government an estimated $150,000 annually, in addition to savings at the local government level.

I wrote earlier this year, 'If lawmakers approve both these bills, they will make as much progress on marijuana reform in one year than other Iowa Legislatures have in the past 100 years combined.”

Those bills each earned support from Iowa Senate committees this year, but have not been taken up by the full Senate or House.

The Legislature uses funnel deadlines to whittle down the number of bills under consideration as the session goes on. However, no bill is truly dead until the session adjourns, as House and Senate leaders have ways to revive bills late in the session.

Related: Two crucial marijuana bills in Iowa Legislature

' Comments: (319) 339-3156; adam.sullivan@thegazette.com

Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com