Iowa House passes bill changing THC limit in state’s medical marijuana program

The Iowa House has passed a bill that would change how much THC patients can receive through the state’s medical marijuana program, add more qualifying conditions and allow more health care practitioners to recommend Iowans be added to the program.

The bill, which passed on a vote of 52-46, follows the recommendation of a state advisory board and is in line with what Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said she is comfortable with signing, but Democrats called it a step backward for the program.

The bill would replace Iowa’s current percentage-based limit, which allows medical marijuana products to contain up to 3% THC, with a per-patient limit of 4.5 grams of THC in a 90-day period.

There are two exceptions to the THC limit: The bill would allow patients to exceed 4.5 grams of THC if a doctor determines that amount is insufficient to treat their condition, or if they are terminally ill.

Rep. John Forbes, D-Urbandale, said a 4.5-gram limit would be “a big step backwards” from how the current law operates. Forbes, a pharmacist, said he has patients who currently receive more THC than would be allowed under the bill’s proposed gram limit. [Read more at Des Moines Register]