Gomers

SIGN THAT BILL:

Gov. Terry Branstad said last week he's unsure if he'll sign a bill to allow limited use of a marijuana derivative for medical use. The legislation gives prosecutorial immunity to people for possession of up to 32 ounces of cannabidiol, an oil that contains only 3 percent of the psychoactive substance of marijuana and controls seizures in some people suffering from severe epileptic seizures. Iowa parents desperate to find relief from frequent seizures their children endure helped convinced legislators. This is a narrowly defined use, with a state-issued identification card obtained with a neurologist's prescription required for anyone to legally possess the oil. Governor, there's no compelling reason to deny Iowans this limited medical option.

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SYNTHETIC DRUG MENACE:

Less than a year after the nationwide Project Synergy raid targeted 11 Eastern Iowa businesses for selling synthetic marijuana, often called K2, three Iowa City businesses snubbed authorities and kept on selling the illegal products, investigators said last week. Federal, state and local officials seized products and cash from Zombies, Pipe Dreamz and Happy Daze in Iowa City on Wednesday. And according to court documents, a Cedar Rapids business that was part of the latest raid, Puff n' Stuff, sold $1.3 million worth of the banned substances in an 18-month period. It has more dangerous side effects than natural marijuana. Shameful that any business would sell this stuff.