Cannabis in Iowa

Adult-use and medical cannabis are both illegal.

Though medical cannabis is illegal, patients with certain qualifying conditions are allowed to use specified cannabinoid oils with a doctor’s recommendation. The oils can be procured at a handful of State authorized dispensaries. More details can be found here.

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Sen. Charles Grassley - R

Does Not Support Federal Legalization

  • Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
  • Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
  • Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
  • Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
  • Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
  • Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

  • In an email to a constituent, Grassley said: “Marijuana is illegal because it is dangerous” (2020)
  • Supports with Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ efforts to enforce federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized medical and recreational marijuana. (2018)
  • Quote: “I oppose moving marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug, based on the current science on the risks and benefits.” (2015)

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Sen. Joni Ernst - R

Does Not Support Federal Legalization

  • Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
  • Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
  • Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
  • Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
  • Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
  • Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

  • Cosponsored the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, which would end the federal prohibition of industrial hemp.
  • Opposed the legalization of medical cannabis in Iowa. (2015)

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Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks (IA-1) R

Does Not Support Federal Legalization

  • Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
  • Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
  • Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
  • Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
  • Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
  • Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

  • Co-Sponsored the Safe Banking Act of 2023, which allows banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level
  • Voted in favor of The Medical Marijuana Research Act, which would remove some barriers to medical cannabis research and allow researchers to use dispensary grade cannabis. (2022)
  • Voted in favor of the SAFE Banking Act of 2021, which allows banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level. (2021)
  • Cosponsored the SAFE Banking Act of 2021, which allows banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level. (2021)
  • Voted in favor of HF 2589, which expanded the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis to include autism and PTSD. (2020)
  • Pledged to join a bipartisan group of state legislators in writing a letter the federal government asking them to respect state medical marijuana laws and remove marijuana from Schedule 1 (2019)
  • Voted in favor of HF 732, which would have increased the amount of THC allowed in medical cannabis oil. (2019)
  • Said: “I think you do have to look at decriminalizing the medical use of marijuana. I do think that’s something on a federal level, when you have states acting in that regard, and then that’s in contrast to what the federal law is.” (2014)
  • Opposed legalizing marijuana like alcohol. (2014)

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Rep. Ashley Hinson (IA-2) R

Does Not Support Federal Legalization

  • Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
  • Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
  • Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
  • Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
  • Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
  • Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

  • Voted in favor of The Medical Marijuana Research Act, which would remove some barriers to medical cannabis research and allow researchers to use dispensary grade cannabis. (2022)
  • Voted in favor of the SAFE Banking Act of 2021, which allows banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level. (2021)
  • Voted in favor of HF 2589, which expanded the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis to include severe autism and PTSD. (2020)
  • Told The Gazette: “I supported bipartisan expansion of medical cannabis laws. We created a cannabidiol board to recommend what diseases cannabis should be used to treat and what level of THC should be used. They’d make suggestions to the Board of Medicine for final approval/denial. I think this process guarantees we don’t go too far too fast with the program. I look forward to hearing recommendations from the board, so we can make sure we continue with a program that helps sick Iowans get treatment they need.” (2018)
  • Voted in favor of HF 524, which legalized the use of cannabis oil for medical purposes in Iowa. (2017)

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Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-3) - R

Does Not Support Federal Legalization

  • Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
  • Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
  • Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
  • Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
  • Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
  • Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

  • On his campaign website, Nunn states: “Industrial hemp has a future in Iowa…The crop is not the same as “marijuana” as commonly known; it has virtually no psychoactive components and is primarily used for things like rope, clothing, paper, and various biomass-based products. The industrial hemp plan passed by the legislature this year is responsible and will give those Iowans with a plow in the field a chance to innovate and diversify their crop portfolios in the future. The Legislature also, separately, passed further CBD oil legislation to help Iowa patients. Our state has a long history of innovation and research, so allowing this critical line of treatment more room to develop will not only help Iowans with severe conditions, such as epilepsy or cancer, but also open the door a bit farther to potential future medical and scientific advancement.” (2019)
  • Quote: “I led and helped pass Iowa’s first “medical cannabis” law. We created a medical board to review new illnesses and prescribe appropriate cannabinoid oil quality and quantity. It is far better for medical doctors to make this recommendation than the State Legislature… This legislation will make a difference in the fight against opioids, help us with safe cannabis use, and save lives.” (2018)
  • As a member of the Iowa State House of Representatives, voted in favor of IA HF 524, which authorized a limited medical marijuana program in the state. (2017)
  • As a member of the Iowa State House of Representatives, proposed a partnership with the state of Minnesota, to allow Iowan medical marijuana patients to source their marijuana from dispensaries in MInnesota. (2016)
  • When the Iowas state bill to expanded the state’s medical marijuana law failed, Nun said that the bill would have “helped a lot more Iowans than we currently are doing now.” (2016)

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Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-4) R

Does Not Support Federal Legalization

  • Expunge Past Cannabis Convictions
  • Reinvest In Communities Most Impacted By The War On Drugs
  • Allow States To Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
  • Allow States To Legalize Medical Cannabis
  • Allow VA Doctors To Recommend Medical Cannabis
  • Allow Cannabis Businesses To Use Banks

  • Voted in favor of The Medical Marijuana Research Act, which would remove some barriers to medical cannabis research and allow researchers to use dispensary grade cannabis. (2022)
  • Voted in favor of the SAFE Banking Act of 2021, which allows banks to work with cannabis businesses that are legal at the state level. (2021)
  • Voted in favor of HF 2589, which expanded the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis to include autism and PTSD. (2020)
  • Voted against HF 732, which would have increased the amount of THC allowed in medical cannabis oil. (2019)
  • On the topic of medical marijuana, Feenstra said: “A lot of senators wanted to go down the road of using it for backaches. That is not where we want to goWe wanted to narrow the scope as much as possible.” (2017)
  • Voted in favor of HF 524, which legalized the use of cannabis oil for medical purposes in Iowa. (2017)
  • Voted against SF 219, which would have reduced the penalties for possession 5 grams or less of marijuana. (2015)
  • Voted against SF 2360, which legalized the use of hemp oil for medical purposes. (2014)

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Gov. Kim Reynolds - R

Has Not Supported Adult Use Legalization In Their State

  • Governor Reynolds said: “I believe marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to other illegal drug use and has a negative effect on our society.” (2022)
  • Governor Reynolds said: “I do not support recreational marijuana. I don’t. I won’t be the governor to do that.” (2019)
  • Opposes efforts to expand the state’s medical cannabis program. 
  • Said she does not support the legalization of cannabis. (2017)

TAKE ACTION IN IOWA

Connect with a NORML chapter in Iowa

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Connect with an Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter in Iowa

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