Legal status of marijuana in the state of iowa


Legal status of marijuana in the state of iowa
Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

Find out about the legal status of medical and recreational marijuana in the state of Iowa. Is marijuana illegal? Better safe than sorry!

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN IOWA

Iowa is one of the few states that has a medical marijuana program that only allows the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in oil form. This program was introduced in 2014 and it required that the oil has a THC percentage lower than 3% and is only allowed for patients suffering from intractable epilepsy.

The program has ran out in July 2017 and there were only little over 160 registered patients using the oil.

As of July 2017 a new program has started with an expanded list of qualifying conditions. So far there is no supplier of the oil in within Iowa, and manufacturers in other states are have expressed doubt to whether there will be enough patients enrolled in the, so far, limited program to make it worth their while.

In this new program, the only marijuana based medicine allowed is again only cannabidiol (CBD) in oil form with a lower THC percentage than 3%.

The production, sale and possession of any other form of medicinal marijuana products are illegal in Iowa.

The qualifying conditions to become a medical marijuana patient in Iowa include:

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Cancer
  • Crohn's disease
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Intractable epilepsy
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Seizures
  • Terminal illness with a life expectancy of under a year
  • Untreatable pain

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN IOWA

The cultivation, sale, and possession of cannabis for recreational purposes are illegal in Iowa.

Iowa has one of the most conservative cannabis laws in the country.

Getting caught with any amount of cannabis is considered a crime and penalties start with 6 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000 for first time offenders.

Getting caught a second time will surely land you in jail for a year, and going up from there.

We are not aware of any possible law changes in the (near) future in Iowa regarding medical and/or recreational cannabis.

Miguel Antonio Ordoñez
Miguel Antonio Ordoñez

Miguel Ordoñez is a long-time writer by trade. Utilizing his AB Mass Media and Communications degree, he has 13 years of experience and counting. He’s covered a wide array of topics, with passion lying in combat sports, mental health, and of course, cannabis.