After more than a year of study, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy in February unanimously recommended that the Legislature legalize marijuana for medical uses. The board also called for lawmakers to change the classification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug.
In announcing its decision, the board noted that a decades-old piece of Iowa law already appeared to allow that, but members said the intent of the law was unclear.
Under current definitions, Schedule II drugs, like those categorized as Schedule I, have the potential for abuse but also have accepted medical uses. Schedule I drugs have no currently accepted medical use.
At the time the decision was announced in February, there were 14 states with medical marijuana laws although regulations in New Jersey hadn't taken effect at that time. The board's recommendation made Iowa's the first state pharmacy panel to take such a stance before either legislators or voters took steps to legalize marijuana for medical use.
The board's recommendation called for the Legislature to create a committee that would propose how to administer a medical marijuana program in Iowa. The panel would include people who use marijuana for medical reasons as well as representatives from the Board of Pharmacy, other health boards and public safety organizations. Pharmacy board members suggested they preferred the medical marijuana regulations in place in New Mexico.
"What the Board of Pharmacy feels is important is that this isn't just a one-group issue, but that we need to bring in all other disciplines and the patients," Susan Frey, a board member and pharmacist said in February.
Now, four months later and looking down the road at what promises to be a contentious election season, Iowa lawmakers have called off plans to have a committee study the legalization of medical marijuana, saying such a decision could be made by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy noted Monday that an old state law says the board may set the rules, so there's no need for a committee. The Des Moines Democrat says the ball is in the board's court now.
The board's executive director, Lloyd Jessen, said Monday that the board doesn't want that responsibility and needs direction from elected leaders.
The ball — or should we say the marijuana hot potato — is back in the Legislature's court ... and, with relatively few votes to be gained but a lot to be lost, it appears lawmakers don't want to deal with it.
They sought office to make decisions, and it's time to do the job for which they were elected.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Daily Nonpareil Online
Copyright: 2010 Daily Nonpareil Online
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
In announcing its decision, the board noted that a decades-old piece of Iowa law already appeared to allow that, but members said the intent of the law was unclear.
Under current definitions, Schedule II drugs, like those categorized as Schedule I, have the potential for abuse but also have accepted medical uses. Schedule I drugs have no currently accepted medical use.
At the time the decision was announced in February, there were 14 states with medical marijuana laws although regulations in New Jersey hadn't taken effect at that time. The board's recommendation made Iowa's the first state pharmacy panel to take such a stance before either legislators or voters took steps to legalize marijuana for medical use.
The board's recommendation called for the Legislature to create a committee that would propose how to administer a medical marijuana program in Iowa. The panel would include people who use marijuana for medical reasons as well as representatives from the Board of Pharmacy, other health boards and public safety organizations. Pharmacy board members suggested they preferred the medical marijuana regulations in place in New Mexico.
"What the Board of Pharmacy feels is important is that this isn't just a one-group issue, but that we need to bring in all other disciplines and the patients," Susan Frey, a board member and pharmacist said in February.
Now, four months later and looking down the road at what promises to be a contentious election season, Iowa lawmakers have called off plans to have a committee study the legalization of medical marijuana, saying such a decision could be made by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy noted Monday that an old state law says the board may set the rules, so there's no need for a committee. The Des Moines Democrat says the ball is in the board's court now.
The board's executive director, Lloyd Jessen, said Monday that the board doesn't want that responsibility and needs direction from elected leaders.
The ball — or should we say the marijuana hot potato — is back in the Legislature's court ... and, with relatively few votes to be gained but a lot to be lost, it appears lawmakers don't want to deal with it.
They sought office to make decisions, and it's time to do the job for which they were elected.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Daily Nonpareil Online
Copyright: 2010 Daily Nonpareil Online
* Thanks to MedicalNeed for submitting this article
