Iowa Democrats call for special session to override medical marijuana veto

Democrats in the Iowa Legislature are calling on their Republican counterparts to hold a special legislative session to override Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of an expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program.

But while Republican legislative leaders said the issue will be a top priority for them in 2020, they called the possibility of a special session “ill-advised,” making it all but certain that Reynolds’ veto will stand.

For Iowans like Joe Bohnert of Des Moines, who participates in the state’s medical marijuana program to treat pain and other side effects stemming from his multiple sclerosis, it’s “outrageous” that Reynolds would veto the expansion and delay any action by another year.

The current medicine Bohnert gets through the program isn’t strong enough to fully manage his symptoms, he said.

“I’ve tried the cannabis oil that’s available now and it works a little bit, but not very much. And it’s way too expensive for me to afford,” he said. [Read more at Des Moines Register]