New Iowa Bill Would Double Number Of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries, Allowing Up To 10 Statewide
“We see that these numbers have stagnated, and extra alternatives with completely different dispensaries will enable the extra Iowans to realize entry.”
By Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
Legislators moved ahead with a invoice Thursday that would enable extra companies to hitch the state’s medical hashish program.
At present, Iowa legislation solely grants 5 licenses for opening medical cannabidiol (CBD) dispensaries—now granted to MedPharm Iowa, with two dispensaries in in Windsor Heights and Sioux Metropolis, and Iowa Hashish Firm, in Iowa Metropolis, Waterloo, and Council Bluffs. Senate File 46 would elevate that restrict to 10, permitting for 5 new dispensaries to open within the state.
Logan Murray, a lobbyist with Inexperienced Leaf Hashish Firm, stated the enlargement of this system via licensing would handle points introduced ahead by the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Board in earlier years. The board advisable in its 2023 report that the state grant extra licenses “in an effort to offer Iowans with larger geographical entry to medical hashish merchandise.”
Whereas the Medical Cannabidiol Board advisable eradicating the cap on licenses and shifting to a system of approving licenses based mostly on evaluation of market calls for, Murray stated elevating the cap would additionally assist handle present wants in Iowa’s medical hashish system.
“We see that these numbers have stagnated, and extra alternatives with completely different dispensaries will enable the extra Iowans to realize entry to this program,” Murray stated.
However lobbyists representing the businesses at the moment licensed underneath the medical cannabidiol program stated there’s not sufficient house in Iowa’s medical CBD marketplace for the enlargement to be a profit for the state.
“We imagine, frankly, this system isn’t sustainable for added licenses,” David Adelman, talking on behalf of Iowa Hashish Firm, informed lawmakers. “When you’re seeking to develop or to create extra efficiencies or extra productiveness with this system, we imagine there’s other ways, however we expect that there are some important flaws on this laws.”
Senators had authorized a measure in 2024 elevating the bounds on the variety of dispensaries within the state. That didn’t advance within the Iowa Home.
One other challenge lobbyists introduced up was the enlargement of this system with no change to the present restrict underneath state legislation for companies of getting a most three medical cannabidiol dispensary licenses. Sen. Scott Webster (R-Bettendorf) stated he plans to amend the legislation to take away this provision and permit companies to open extra dispensaries whereas nonetheless abiding by the entire restrict of 10 dispensaries all through the state.
Phil Jeneary with the Iowa HEMP Coalition was against the invoice, saying the Legislature mustn’t transfer to develop the medical CBD program whereas limiting hemp merchandise via measures just like the 2024 hemp legislation. That laws set limits of 4 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per serving in consumable hemp merchandise and a ten mg most per container, along with including new restrictions and penalties on the possession, sale and manufacturing of hemp merchandise.
Lawmakers thought-about one other invoice Thursday, House Study Bill 29, that might restrict the consumption of drinks containing THC in autos.
Jeneary stated 2oo Iowa companies both closed or needed to relinquish their hemp registration due to the legislation. He stated these laws got here regardless of hemp merchandise being federally authorized underneath the 2018 Farm Invoice whereas the medical cannabidiol program remains to be in battle with federal legislation.
“Our group believes that we will’t have the Division of Well being and Human Companies and the Legislature form of crushing and offering laws on one business that’s authorized, whereas selling a federally unlawful enterprise enterprise,” Jeneary stated.
Webster stated medical cannabidiol packages have been “acknowledged throughout federal ranges,” and that medical CBD merchandise offered via this system shouldn’t be in comparison with consumable hemp merchandise.
“I don’t assume that as a result of the [2018] Farm Invoice created a loophole for hemp…that we should always simply abruptly say that they’re the market, and that’s the actual space,” Webster stated. “I feel, relating to psychological well being and conditions like that, medical marijuana has its guarantees and it has conditions the place it has labored. And there’s different areas throughout the state of Iowa and medical situations that medical marijuana doesn’t work for. It’s closely regulated. It is rather a lot, within the scenario, watched over and made positive that it’s protected.”
The measure superior out of subcommittee with unanimous help, heading to the Senate Commerce Committee for additional consideration.
This story was first published by Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Photograph courtesy of Kimzy Nanney.
