The Iowa House debated expanding Iowa’s current cannibis oil law. Last year the Iowa passed a law that allowed the possession and use of cannibis oil for certain patients suffering epileptic seizures. A more comprehensive medical marijuana bill was defeated in the Iowa House, but State Representative Zach Nunn (R-Bondurant) filed an amendment to a controlled substance bill that would have expanded the cannibis oil law to include patients suffering from Cancer, AIDS or HIV, Chron’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, as well as, any terminal illness that met the symptom criteria outlined in the amendment.
The amendment was defeated, but it is unlikely this issue will go away any time soon. You can watch the entire debate online here, below you can watch floor speeches that represent both sides of this debate from those in the Iowa House Republican caucus.
First, State Representative Steve Holt (R-Denison) expressed his opposition stating that the Iowa House needed to let the current medicine approval process take its course.
State Representative Zach Nunn (R-Bondurant) gave closing remarks in favor of the amendment, citing families he has spoken with who could benefit from the expansion.