The Iowa Board of Pharmacy took the first step Wednesday towards legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. The board voted to recommend that lawmakers change the way marijuana is classified in Iowa.
The unanimous approval of the recommendation brought a round of applause from advocates of medical marijuana like Roy Lakers of Des Moines. "I have Multiple Sclerosis, and you may look at me and think this guy may not look that sick. But I'm able to maintain my health because I use marijuana," he said.
Until now, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug in Iowa and considered to have no medical value. But after months of research and public hearings, pharmacy officials agreed its time for a change.
"In order to be able to further the possibility of using medical marijuana in Iowa, that's what we wanted to do was get it out of that C1 class," said Board Chairman Vernon Benjamin.
The board is recommending the legislature classify marijuana as a Schedule II drug-- meaning there is a risk for abuse, but also the potential for benefit.
"The human response is to try and help people, and the human response has to be weighed against the legal ramifications," said board member Peggy Whitworth.
Medical marijuana is already legal in 14 other states, but board members seemed to agree that none of those states have gotten the policies quite right. "I think among the biggest concerns is it could be fraught with abuse," said Whitworth.
To avoid that, their recommendation came with a requirement. The board is asking lawmakers to form a special committee to create rules about how medical marijuana can be used.
"Our idea is to get input on everybody out there who's going to be involved in the process," said Benjamin.
The task force, board members say, should include representatives from a variety of areas such as hospice workers and law enforcement officials.
The Iowa Board of Pharmacy is now the first in the nation to make such a move on medical marijuana, but its unlikely lawmakers will have time to address the issue during this year's shortened session.
The unanimous approval of the recommendation brought a round of applause from advocates of medical marijuana like Roy Lakers of Des Moines. "I have Multiple Sclerosis, and you may look at me and think this guy may not look that sick. But I'm able to maintain my health because I use marijuana," he said.
Until now, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug in Iowa and considered to have no medical value. But after months of research and public hearings, pharmacy officials agreed its time for a change.
"In order to be able to further the possibility of using medical marijuana in Iowa, that's what we wanted to do was get it out of that C1 class," said Board Chairman Vernon Benjamin.
The board is recommending the legislature classify marijuana as a Schedule II drug-- meaning there is a risk for abuse, but also the potential for benefit.
"The human response is to try and help people, and the human response has to be weighed against the legal ramifications," said board member Peggy Whitworth.
Medical marijuana is already legal in 14 other states, but board members seemed to agree that none of those states have gotten the policies quite right. "I think among the biggest concerns is it could be fraught with abuse," said Whitworth.
To avoid that, their recommendation came with a requirement. The board is asking lawmakers to form a special committee to create rules about how medical marijuana can be used.
"Our idea is to get input on everybody out there who's going to be involved in the process," said Benjamin.
The task force, board members say, should include representatives from a variety of areas such as hospice workers and law enforcement officials.
The Iowa Board of Pharmacy is now the first in the nation to make such a move on medical marijuana, but its unlikely lawmakers will have time to address the issue during this year's shortened session.
