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Governor indicates her preference on medical marijuana bills

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February 21st, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds says a state board has recommended an appropriate compromise on the amount of the key chemical that should be allowed in the cannabis products licensed for sale in Iowa. “I’m comfortable with where the board ended up,” Reynolds says, “so they just met and I think that might be similar to the House bill just passed through committee.”

The state board that oversees Iowa’s medical marijuana program last Friday recommended a four-and-a-half gram limit on the amount of T-H-C in cannabis products. T-H-C is the chemical that advocates say provides relief for a variety of medical ailments.  “It doesn’t mean that in the future this is where it has to end,” Reynolds says, “but I think that’s pretty significant progress.” The board also recommended setting NO T-H-C limit for terminally ill patients and allowing others to buy higher T-H-C amounts if they have a doctor’s recommendation to do so.

“That was a compromise that was made by the Cannabidiol Board. They’re listening to individuals that are listening to individuals who are impacted and all of the stakeholders involved in it,” Reynolds says. “…I think that’s appropriate…and I’m comfortable with that.” Reynolds made her comments today (Friday) during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs this (Friday) evening on Iowa P-B-S.

A Senate committee this week approved a bill that would allow a far higher amount of T-H-C in medical cannabis products sold in Iowa. Lawmakers in both the Senate AND the House say they’ve been waiting for the governor to publicly state what level would be acceptable to her, since Reynolds vetoed a bill on the topic last year.