Public Health officials in Iowa say the timeline legislators set for granting state licenses to businesses that will grow marijuana to manufacture and sell cannabis oil in the state MAY be too “aggressive.” The governor hasn’t appointed the nine-member advisory group that’s to be involved in the licensing process. The state agency given the task to write the rules for carrying out the new law had its budget cut by more than 13 percent. Iowa Department of Public Health director Gerd  Clabaugh says it makes selecting and licensing one or even two medical cannabis manufacturers by December 1st a challenge.

 

Members of the State Board of Health like Vicki Lewis of Marshalltown are raising concerns. Lewis says legislators should have set aside money for the department to implement the new law.

 

The new law calls for the Iowa Department of Public Health to select and license up to two cannabis oil manufacturers by December 1st. Up to five state licenses may be granted for dispensaries in Iowa that will sell cannabis oil, but APRIL 1st is the deadline for those decisions.