Iowa

In 2014, the Iowa Legislature approved Senate File (SF) 2360, commonly known as the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Act. The Iowa Legislature mandated that the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) establish a framework for regulating CBD manufacturing and sales.
The IDALS Hemp Law allows farmers and growers to obtain an Iowa hemp license to produce and cultivate hemp plants within the state. It's critical to note that CBD usage is not legalized by this commercial hemp production initiative. When applying for a hemp license, all individuals involved with the hemp business must submit their fingerprints.
The law permitted Iowans with intractable epilepsy to use CBD medications containing a THC concentration of less than 0.3 percent. Despite the fact that it was enacted, Iowans had no method to acquire CBD goods.

Table of contents

1. Brief Info

  •  Is CBD Legal in Iowa?
The products that contain less than 0.3% THC are federally legal in Iowa.
  • Who Can Buy CBD in Iowa?
Individuals at the age of 18 or over. 
  • Who Can Grow CBD Products in Iowa?
People that have a license issued by the government.
  • Who is protected from criminal offenses regarding CBD use?
The ones who didn’t exceed the dosage and possession limits of CBD 
  • More in-depth information about the state regulations and laws

2. Iowa CBD laws

In 2014, the Iowa Legislature approved Senate File (SF) 2360, commonly known as the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Act. The law permitted Iowans with intractable epilepsy to use CBD medications containing a THC concentration of less than 0.3 percent. Despite the fact that it was enacted, Iowans had no method to acquire CBD goods.

House File 524

The Iowa Legislature passed HF 524, also known as the Medical Cannabidiol Act, in 2017 to legalize medical cannabis. The Iowa Legislature mandated that the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) establish a framework for regulating CBD manufacturing and sales. The law also granted the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) authority to issue a medical cannabidiol registration card to qualified patients. Patients in Iowa who have a medical cannabidiol registration card may buy CBD products from authorized dispensaries.

Iowa Hemp Act (SF 599)

In May 2019, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File (SF) 599, also known as the Iowa Hemp Act, which legalized hemp in the state. A bill was passed in the Iowa Legislature that allows farmers to grow industrial hemp under regulations designed by the state's Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. It also created an Industrial Hemp Advisory Commission to advise the governor on developing a program for such operations. The USDA gave the IDALS authority to regulate hemp and CBD product regulation in California after it authorized the draft.

House File 2589

HF 2589 went through two more rounds of committee readings before being voted on in the House and Senate. Lawmakers signed several new amendments to Iowa's Medical Cannabidiol Program throughout HF 2589. On July 1, 2020, the bill was signed into law by Iowa's Governor Kim Reynolds. The statute took effect on July 1, 2020. The Cannabis Tax Act of 2018 has increased the limit on THC purchases to 4.50 grams per 90 days and eliminated the 0.3 percent THC limit on products. The new amendment only allows for the usage of cannabis by people with a terminal illness or those who were certified by healthcare professionals for additional THC use when they joined the program.

Licensing Requirements

The IDALS Hemp Law allows farmers and growers to obtain an Iowa hemp license to produce and cultivate hemp plants within the state. It's critical to note that CBD usage is not legalized by this commercial hemp production initiative. When applying for a hemp license, all individuals involved with the hemp business must submit their fingerprints. People who are eligible to apply for a license are:
  • Those applying as a member of a business structure
  • Executive corporate entity's key participants
  • An applicant selected by the president or chancellor of an organization directed by the state board of governors
  • The authorized representative for the hemp licensee is an individual who has been designated by the state.
Once an individual has completed their hemp license application, the IDALS also takes payment for the fee.

Where to Buy CBD Products Legally In Iowa

The state of Iowa has licensed dispensaries, which means that registered patients or their proxies can purchase CBD products in person from one of three licensed outlets. MedPharm Iowa
  • Sioux City, IA
  • Windsor Heights, IA
Iowa Cannabis Company
  • Waterloo, IA
Patients interested in military discounts can check online for locations that accept. They also have lists of products on their websites. Patients may visit the nearest store to make purchases after getting an appointment at a licensed dispensary.

Medical Cannabis in Iowa

In order to be eligible to apply for a medical marijuana card in Iowa, you must fulfill the following qualifications:
  • ​Be diagnosed with one of the qualifying medical condition
  • Obtain a certification from the licensed doctor
  • Have proof of residency
The list of qualifying medical conditions are as follows
  1. Multiple sclerosis
  2. ALS
  3. Seizures
  4. PTSD
  5. Corticobasal degeneration
  6. Parkinson’s disease
  7. Chron’s disease
  8. Chronic Pain
  9. Cancer
  10. Autism
  11. Ulcerative Colitis
  12. Other terminal illnesses

Steps to Receive a Medical Marijuana Card in Iowa

Step 1: Visit a Physician

Visit a certified physician and get a document confirming your qualifying condition, and that treatment with cannabis is appropriate.

Step 2: Application

Fill in the application via the Iowa Department of Public Health website.

Step 3: Receive the Card

After the approval, you will receive your card. 

More about Medical Cannabis Card

The applications are usually approved within 24 hours. People can purchase medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries as soon as they got approved. 

Possession limits

Patients and caregivers who receive a 90-day supply of cannabis have no more than 4.5 grams of THC per month unless they have a terminal illness or get permission from their doctor. THC must be in one of the legal forms. Cannabis flowers and personal cultivation are both considered illegal.

3. Notes

  1. Geoffrey William Guy; Brian Anthony Whittle; Philip Robson (2004). The Medicinal Uses of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Pharmaceutical Press. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-0-85369-517-2.
  2. Bloomsbury Publishing (2010). Dictionary of Medical Terms. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 139