2020-21 Improvements and Recommendations

While 2020 saw some improvements in the Iowa program, in 2021 lawmakers did nothing to advance the safe access of medical cannabis for their constituents. 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.

Iowa lawmakers and regulators should also pay close attention to relieving some of the most burdensome access problems for patients. One example includes improving access to dispensaries; there are very few retailers in the state, meaning most patients must travel far distances to purchase their medicine.