Policy Recommendations Iowa

2019-2020 Improvements and Recommendations for Iowa

In 2020, Governor Reynolds signed HF 2589 into law19, which expands the list of eligible medical conditions under the state's medical cannabis program to include chronic pain and PTSD. The legislation also permits physician assistants, advanced practice nurses and podiatrists to recommend cannabis for treatment, and increases the THC cap for authorized cannabis products from 3 percent to allow a total of 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days. While these are positive developments, the same bill also permits landlords and employers to ban medical cannabis use by registered patients. Iowa is making important strides in expanding its medical program, however removing patient protections works directly against these efforts.

ASA encourages Iowa lawmakers to organize a comprehensive medical cannabis program, that provides protections for patients who rent, as well as protections from employers that permit patients to use cannabis as a medicine without fear of losing employment. Such a program should remove arbitrary THC caps, and permit the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, distribution and retail of medical cannabis and cannabis products for patients.