Your medical cannabis journey simplified: find partnered dispensaries, explore pricing options, earn rewards, and get answers to FAQs, all in one spot.
December 9, 2019 04:55 pm ETEstimated Read Time: 2 Minutes
Iowa has taken steps in the right direction by expanding its medical marijuana program with the inclusion of two additional medical conditions. An Iowa medical board approved the use of cannabis to treat both PTSD and intellectual disorders with aggression. The state only requires one more approval before those patients can begin to seek treatment with medical marijuana.
It’s Not Quite Official Yet
Before anything is official, the Iowa Board of Medicine must also agree with the evidence presented to the medical board. Once the Iowa Board of Medicine recognizes the legitimacy behind these two conditions and how cannabis can help them, they will be added as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.
Unfortunately, the medical board rejected two other proposed conditions. Both Alzheimer’s disease and opioid dependency didn’t provide enough evidence to prove medical marijuana would serve as a treatment for the condition. Once more data is released on the relationship between those conditions and medical marijuana, the conditions will be re-evaluated for the program.
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
“It’s not the first line of therapy but it gives them an option when medications fail,” said Iowa Rep. John Forbes. “I just ask you to consider that.”
A Step in the Right Direction
Nonetheless, this is a step in the right direction for Iowa. Currently, the state only allows the use of medical marijuana, and that’s with a 3 percent THC cap. Recently, a separate Iowa medical board voted on a recommendation to eliminate this THC cap in exchange for a purchase limit. Unfortunately, the board unanimously voted against the recommendation, and Iowa patients will be subjected to low-percentage THC marijuana.
Right now, Iowa has around 3,800 patients in the medical marijuana program, along with 850 health care providers, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Increasing qualified conditions to the program will not only increase the number of patients but also increase the amount of tax revenue made from cannabis sales. The limited inclusion currently nets in around $4 million in sales a year. This is relatively low compared to California, which made over $345 million in tax revenue from legal cannabis. Hopefully, in the future we see Iowa take more progressive steps in including more people in their medical marijuana program.
Joey Reams is a freelance journalist who studied at San Francisco State University. He specializes in writing about music, business, travel, culture, and cannabis. You can find him at concerts, rock climbing or finding the next best place to eat.
Blunts: What are they exactly, and how do they affect your body? If you’re interested in smoking blunts—or already smoke them—this guide is for you. We’ll cover everything you need to know about this popular cannabis intake method, including how they’re made, how they differ from spliffs and joints, risks of use, and alternative intake…
“Stoned,” “high,” “tripping,” and “baked,” are all terms engrained in the cannabis community. These metaphorical descriptions contribute to how we perceive, interpret, and learn from the experiences produced by cannabis consumption. Cannabis experiences, of course, are unique and highly variable. Specific plant strains, the presence of other cannabinoids, different delivery methods, and a user’s individual…
Thanks to the growing wave of legalization, more consumers than ever can grow their own cannabis right at home. Growing essentials that used to be secretive are now bought and sold freely. This includes items, like grow tents, nutrients, LED lighting, HPS lighting, ventilation, and more. Keeping all these items straight is hard enough, but…
Skin diseases plague millions of individuals, inflicting both physical discomforts in addition to mental and social stress. Thankfully, there is no shortage of skin treatment options available on the market. That said, this established market may soon be in for a major shake-up if recent cannabis research is any indication. Traditionally, cannabis research focused on studying…
As more states move toward legalization, accurately detecting impaired driving is of the utmost importance. Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) have long been the go-to method for law enforcement to assess driver impairment caused by substances like alcohol. However, a recent 2023 study published in JAMA Psychiatry raises serious questions about the accuracy of these tests…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.