DES MOINES, Iowa – An expanded version of Iowa’s medical cannabis law received the signature of then-Gov. Terry Branstad three months ago, but legal questions and implementation issues could delay its enactment. At least 50 potential cannabis business operators have contacted the Iowa Department of Public Health, but the medical cannabis board that will review applications and issue licenses hasn’t yet been established.

Randy Mayer, coordinator of the Office of Medical Cannabidiol for the Iowa Department of Public Health, says the goal of having producers licensed by December is ambitious. “I think to make the Dec. 1 deadline for licensing and manufacture, everything would have to work perfectly,” he states. “And I think that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect that there might be some hitches along the way.”

Under the law, the department can license to out-of-state sellers, but there are questions about whether that would violate federal law. The Health Department is asking the state attorney general for clarification.
Prior to the expanded law, only people suffering from epileptic seizures could legally use cannabis. Now a variety of ailments, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease, qualify as legal justification for use.

To legally use medical cannabis, Iowans have to apply for and receive a registrant card. Mayer says fewer than 120 people have done so, possibly because of the $100 yearly fee, which might be wasted if the program isn’t up and operating in a timely fashion.

Mayer says the Legislature conducted research on the potential number of medical cannabis users in the state. “They estimated about 6,000 Iowans might be interested and eligible to sign up,” Mayer relates. As the state works through its application process, Mayer reminds Iowans that they are breaking the law if they purchase medical marijuana by mail and have it shipped across state lines.

(Iowa News Service)

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a man early this (Monday) morning on a warrant out of Adams County. 54-year old Scott Timothy Brown, of Grant, was taken into custody in the 600 block of 2nd Street in Grant at around 12:50-a.m., on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court. Brown was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on bond amounting to slightly more than $343.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:25 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited Iowa this past weekend, on a tour to tout the importance of bringing more young people into farm-related professions. Perdue stopped in Sheffield, Des Moines, Urbandale and Davenport over the weekend as part of a five-state tour. On Saturday, he delivered the keynote speech at the 2017 Iowa Ag Summit in Des Moines.

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) — A Marine from Iowa based at Camp Pendleton has died after a tree fell on him at the Southern California base. Marine officials say Lance Cpl. Cody Haley of Hardin, Iowa, was doing routine morning physical training Friday when a tree fell upon him. A Marine spokeswoman says he died at the scene.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A severe June 30 hail storm that struck Sioux City has become big business for certain sectors of the local economy and drawn interest from outside contractors. The Sioux City Journal reports that auto body shops, insurance agencies, roofing companies and other auxiliary businesses have also seen benefits from the storm’s aftermath. Some Sioux City neighborhoods reportedly experienced golf ball-sized hail.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Union Pacific has apologized for a train that blocked a northern Iowa railroad crossing for more than seven hours. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that the train blocked an intersection in southern Mason City from 9 a.m. until at least 4 p.m. on July 27. The blocked crossing was initially blamed on a broken-down train, but Union Pacific spokesman Justin Jacobs says the delay was due to replacing the train’s crew.

Cass County Domocratic Chair Sherry Toelle, Sunday, announced the winners of the American flag and the M&M Candy Jar on display at the Cass County Democratic Party’s fair booth. John Weppler won the flag, and Madison Loving won the candy jar. Both are from Atlantic. Congratulations to John Weppler and Madison Loving, from the Cass County Democratic Party!

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A severe June 30 hail storm that struck Sioux City has become big business for certain sectors of the local economy and drawn interest from outside contractors. The Sioux City Journal reports that auto body shops, insurance agencies, roofing companies and other auxiliary businesses have also seen benefits from the storm’s aftermath.

Some Sioux City neighborhoods reportedly experienced golf ball-sized hail. Some contractors say it’s the biggest influx of customers they’ve ever seen, and local insurance agents say they’ve been overwhelmed by calls.

Roofing contractor Charese Yanney says the hail storm may have been the most widespread since one that struck in June 1978.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is visiting Iowa on a tour to tout the importance of bringing more young people into farm-related professions.

Perdue stopped in Sheffield, Des Moines, Urbandale and Davenport over the weekend as part of a five-state tour. On Saturday, he delivered the keynote speech at the 2017 Iowa Ag Summit in Des Moines.

Perdue also announced a new mentoring program for farmers. He says he wants to make it easier for families to get into the industry. A new partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the nonprofit group SCORE will help aspiring farmers.

Perdue says future farmers need more access to capital, technology and information to join the industry, which he says will face greater demands in the next 30 years.

The Marine Corps has issued a correction to its story about a Marine from Iowa who died recently at Camp Pendleton, in California. The original story said the Marine died in a car crash. Officials now say the young Marina died after a tree fell on him at the Southern California base. Marine officials said Sunday that Lance Cpl. Cody Haley of Hardin, Iowa, died at the scene Friday.

Marine spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns said Haley was doing routine morning physical training when the tree fell. The 20-year-old Haley was assigned to the 1st Marine Division. He deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in March 2016.

His awards include the National Defense Service medal, Global War on Terrorism Service medal, and the Sea Service Deployment ribbon. A Marine statement says the Corps is heartbroken about Haley’s death.

A collision between two ATV’s Saturday evening north of Moorhead, in northwest Iowa’s Monona County, resulted in one person being transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The Iowa State Patrol reports a Honda 300-EX driven by 37-year old Dustin Michael Solberg, of Moorhead, was traveling south on Plum Avenue, following a Honda Four Trax 300, driven by 19-year old Derrick Lynn Steffen, of Modale.

The Patrol says Solberg was following Steffen too closely. When the front tires of his ATV made contact Steffens’ rear tires, Solberg over-corrected, causing the ATV to rollover. Solberg was transported to the hospital. There was no report on his condition.

The accident happened at around 5:38-p.m., Saturday.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:15 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — More than $3 million has been awarded to build a first-of-its-kind housing development for the chronically homeless in Iowa City. The Press-Citizen reports that the Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently awarded $2.7 million to Shelter House for the development, in addition to a $463,000 grant. The plan includes 24 one-bedroom apartments that will cater to the chronically homeless and frequent service users.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Police in western Iowa are investigating after six people suffered opioid overdoses in Council Bluffs this week. The Daily Nonpareil reports that two men were treated for overdoses at separate Council Bluffs hospitals about half-an-hour apart Wednesday night. A day earlier, three people were found unconscious in a Council Bluffs gas station parking lot and another man found unresponsive at a nearby home. All have since been treated and released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man at a Des Moines home and say a suspect has been charged. Des Moines police say in a news release that officers and medics were called to the home around 4 a.m. Saturday and found a man who had been fatally stabbed. Police say 49-year-old Shawn Eugene Davis was arrested and charged Saturday with first-degree murder in the stabbing death.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The identity of a baby killed in a Waterloo crash that also injured nine others has been released. The Courier reports that 7-month-old Liam Mwanje died Wednesday night when a minivan he and eight other people were in collided with a pickup truck at a Waterloo intersection. The baby was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police have not released details about whether restraints were in use at the time of the crash.

Police in Marshalltown are investigating a case in which a stolen truck plowed into doors of the Marshalltown Roundhouse at Marshalltown High School.

The Marshalltown Police Department got called to the scene at 4:15 Friday morning. A stolen pick up truck had crashed into the north doors of the Marshalltown Roundhouse, a facility that was refurbished just a year ago. There was no one in the vehicle. An investigation is underway. Buildings and grounds crews worked to secure the building as soon as they could.

No activities at the school were interfered with. Repairs are dependent upon the availability of glass and door frames.

(Radio Iowa)