The initial legislation for the approval of medical cannabis in Iowa was actually passed back in 2017, when voters opted for House File 524, which is an Act establishing rules and regulations on “Medical Cannabidiol” in the state.
Please note; while we aim to keep this pages fully up to date with the latest information, cannabis laws are always changing. We encourage you to verify these rules and regulations in the official legal text, which we’ve linked throughout the page for your convenience.
On May 12, 2017, Gov. Terry Branstad signed HB 524 into law. The law will allow certain patients in the state to use, possess, and access low-THC cannabis oil with their doctor’s authorization. A 2014 law only gave patients with seizure disorders a defense to prosecution for use of this medicine. The 2017 law expands the conditions that qualify for low-THC oils, prevents prosecutions (not just convictions), and will allow in-state access to the cannabis oil by December 1, 2018.
Qualifying conditions: Cancer, if the underlying condition or treatment produces severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting syndrome; multiple sclerosis with severe and persistent muscle spasms; seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy; AIDS or HIV; Crohn’s disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; any terminal illness, with a probable life expectancy of under one year, and if the illness or its treatment produces severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting syndrome; Parkinson’s disease; and untreatable pain, meaning pain whose cause cannot be removed by general accepted medical practice and the full range of pain management modalities has been used without success or with intolerable side effects.
Written certifications: In order to enroll in the program, patients must obtain a written certification from their doctor, meaning a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery. The doctor must be a patient’s primary care provider. Patients must be permanent residents of the state. Patients under 18 can only enroll in the program through their caregivers.
Cannabis oil limits: THC is capped at three percent. Smoking is not permitted. The Department of Health will determine what quantity of cannabidiol patients and caregivers will be permitted to possess.
Out-of-state reciprocity: Patients visiting Iowa from another state who are registered with a cannabidiol program in their home state can possess and consume cannabis in Iowa, but they are not permitted to make purchases. The law allows Iowa patients to register to obtain the oil in Minnesota. However, Minnesota’s medical cannabis program does not currently permit this.
Caregivers: Under the program, caregivers can enroll to help patients pick up and use the oil. Caregivers must be residents of Iowa or a bordering state to Iowa and at least 18 years of age. The patients’ doctors must designate them as a necessary caretaker.
Registration card fees: Card fees for patients are set at $100. However, if the patient receives social security disability benefits, supplemental security insurance payments, or is enrolled in a medical assistance program, the fee is $25. Caregiver cards are $25.
Cultivators (also commonly referred to as Producers or Growers) –
641—154.17(124E) Cultivation operations.
154.17(1) Operating documents. The operating documents of a manufacturer shall include all of the following:
154.17(2) Prohibited activities.
154.22(1);
154.17(3) Criminal background investigations.
154.17(4) Relationship to health care practitioners. A manufacturer shall not share office space with, refer patients to, or have any financial relationship with a health care practitioner.
Most states require an extensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking system to monitor cultivation efforts and inventory. Our cultivation seed-to-sale-tracking solution provides comprehensive data tracking with an emphasis on compliance. Customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each state, BioTrack also features an all-in-one business tool to help you operate every aspect of the cultivation business by itself, or as part of the vertically-integrated cannabis business.
641—154.17(124E) Manufacturer operations.
154.17(1) Operating documents. The operating documents of a manufacturer shall include all of the following:
154.17(2) Prohibited activities. A manufacturer shall not:
154.22(1);
154.17(3) Criminal background investigations.
154.17(4) Relationship to health care practitioners. A manufacturer shall not share office space with, refer patients to, or have any financial relationship with a health care practitioner.
Most states require an extensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking system to monitor processing and manufacturing efforts, which is especially important in this part of the supply chain due to conversions into multiple byproducts and higher amounts of waste. Our processing seed-to-sale-tracking solution provides comprehensive conversion tracking focused on compliant data points. Customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each state, BioTrack also features an all-in-one business tool to help you operate every aspect of the cultivation business by itself, or as part of the vertically-integrated cannabis business.
1.1 – Introduction
The vision of the Office of Medical Cannabidiol (OMC) at the Iowa Department of Public Health
is to have a high-quality, effective, and compliant medical cannabidiol program for Iowa
residents with serious medical conditions. Once implemented, the program will ensure access
to medical cannabidiol products to patients with serious medical conditions at five dispensaries
across the state.
OMC will work to balance a patient’s need for access to low-cost treatments with the
requirement to ensure the safety and efficacy of the products. Paramount to patient safety and
care is making sure that each medical cannabidiol product sold to a patient is tested for harmful
contaminants and that product labels accurately reflect the content and potency of the medical
cannabidiol being dispensed.
1.2 – Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide licensed Iowa medical cannabidiol manufacturers
and laboratories with the required and recommended best practices for the collection and
analysis of medical cannabidiol and other finished medical cannabidiol products. The governing
statute of the Office of Medical Cannabidiol is Iowa Code chapter 124E and the associated
administrative rules are found in 641 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 154.
641—154.17(124E) Dispensary operations.
154.17(1) Operating documents. The operating documents of a manufacturer shall include all of the following:
154.17(2) Prohibited activities.
154.22(1);
154.17(3) Criminal background investigations.
154.17(4) Relationship to health care practitioners. A manufacturer shall not share office space with, refer patients to, or have any financial relationship with a health care practitioner.
Most states require dispensaries to track and trace all of their cannabis-related products for regulatory and compliance reporting requirements. Our Dispensary Point of Sale and inventory management system provides comprehensive seed-to-sale cannabis tracking with a focus on compliant data points. If your state requires seed-to-sale systems to stay compliant, BioTrack has you covered. Our system is customized to meet the unique regulatory frameworks in each and every state.
641—154.24(124E) Record-keeping requirements.
154.24(1) Sales and distribution. A manufacturer shall maintain complete and accurate electronic sales transaction records in the department’s secure sales and inventory tracking system, including:
154.24(2) Financial transactions. A manufacturer shall maintain records that reflect all financial transactions and the financial condition of the business. The following records shall be maintained for at least five years and made available for review, upon request of the department:
154.24(3) Other records.
Iowa is still in the process of finalizing all rules and regulations pertaining to medical marijuana. If you have any questions pertaining to the application process for Iowa feel free to reach out to us by clicking here.
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Adherence to state and local cannabis regulations in all active markets. Print compliant labels, enforce sales limits, and verify recommendations quickly and accurately. Regular system updates ensure compliance if regulations change.
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