Governor Kim Reynolds has named the eight members of a board that will advise the Iowa Department of Public Health as the agency implements Iowa’s newly expanded medical cannabis law. Iowa Department of Public Health director Gerd Clabaugh says his agency is rushing to meet a December deadline for granting licenses for growing marijuana that will be turned into cannabis oil.
A new state law passed this spring sanctions marijuana growing operations for production of cannabis oil that will be dispensed to Iowans. Supporters acknowledged it may take up to two years to set up the distribution system. Clabaugh says he and his staff hope to meet with the advisory group as soon as possible.
Previous state law had decriminalized possession of cannabis oil purchased out-of-state for treatment of chronic epilepsy. The new law lets Iowa doctors prescribe cannabis oil for treatment of more than a dozen chronic and debilitating conditions. The administrative rules for regulating this new system will be reviewed and approved by the previously-existing State Board of Health as well as a legislative committee before the rules take effect.
