April 25, 2024

Iowa pharmacy board tables vote on marijuana laws

DES MOINES — The Iowa Board of Pharmacy will wait until a January meeting to consider recommending changing state law to reclassify marijuana so it could be used to treat medical conditions.

The board met Wednesday and decided to table a proposal that members recommend a change to the current law. Currently, marijuana is classified under state law as both a Schedule I drug, meaning it is has no medical use, and as a Schedule II drug, which has medicinal value.

Advocates want the drug to be placed only in the Schedule II category.

The board recommended that the Legislature make such a change to state law in 2010, but no action was taken.

Lawmakers this year approved legislation that allows the use of oil derived from marijuana to treat chronic epilepsy.