Iowa’s New Changes to Medical Marijuana Program Now Allows for More Business Opportunities
Iowa’s New Changes to Medical Marijuana Program Now Allows for More Business Opportunities
Recently, Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that changes the cap for THC in Iowa’s medical marijuana program. In addition to the cap, Governor Reynolds also allows additional conditionals to be qualified for the program. However, the state’s largest medical marijuana provider warned that lowering the THC limit will not allow some patients to be treated effectively with their conditions.
On Monday, June 30th, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds’ office announced the signing of 14 other bills but Governor Reynolds did not wish to comment on the signing in the release. The bills change Iowa’s THC amount cap that a dispensary can give to a person – replacing Iowa’s current cap of 3% limit of 4.5 grams per patient every 90 days. However, the law carries an exception for those whose health care provider notes that 4.5 grams every 90 days are not sufficient for their condition.
Besides the THC cap, the bills also added post-traumatic stress disorder and severe intractable autism with self-injurious or aggressive behaviors to the list of medical qualifying conditions. Additionally, the bills changed the wording of the list from “untreatable” pain to “chronic” pain.
The expansion of the qualifying conditions allows more patients to be part of Iowa’s medical marijuana program.
The law also adds physician assistants, podiatrists, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and advanced practice registered nurses to the list of health care practitioners allowed to certify patients to receive registration cards to participate in the program. The new bills also include marijuana and controlled substance use in the workplace as a disqualification for unemployment benefits.
In other news Acreage Holdings Inc., Iowa’s second manufacturer, idled its facility in April and officially pulled out of the state’s program on June 1, 2020. No representative from the company wishes to comment on the reasoning.
Because of the new law, Iowa has delayed the process for awarding the two available licenses for new dispensaries. The state is hoping to fill the space after Have a Heart Compassionate Care closed its two Iowa medical marijuana dispensaries in Council Bluffs and Davenport. Instead of awarding the licenses on July 20, 2020 – the state is rescheduling for September 7, 2020. In addition, the state will also be seeking a new manufacturer in the near future.
If you are interested in opening a medical marijuana business in the state of Iowa, schedule a consultation with one of our leading experts.
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