Child Abuse For CBD? “Iowa Code allows for removal of a child with the approval of a judge,” say DHS emails

The following email, sent to statewide DHS workers on January 17th, tell the story of what happens when you purchase medicine over the counter from snake oil sales people.

If you are using CBD illegally obtained at illegal outlets in Iowa, you could potentially lose your child. While I doubt it is going to be an epidemic, some folks may potentially lose their child if caught using CBD. It is in the realm of possibility and therefore patients and families deserve to know/be informed about this.

Better safe than sorry.

If you are selling CBD, you have an ethical obligation to warn your consumers.

Anyone selling CBD without warning Iowans of potential legal consequences must have something wrong with their ethics and integrity, because ignoring the law is not justified in this particular situation.

If you and your family are contacted by DHS for illegal CBD use, please consult with an attorney.

Below is the email in full with screenshots.

Iowa Family Charged, Convicted Of Child Abuse Over CBD Oil

The Legal Importance Of Understanding Between Legal CBD, And Illegal CBD

Open Less Than A Month, Dubuque CBD Vendor Receives County Lawsuit In Federal Crackdown

Probationer In Northern Iowa Tests Positive For THC After Using CBD Only Products | Has Never Used Marijuana In Their Life

From: Iowa DHS Service HelpDesk

To: DHS, Service HelpDesk, +72 more

Sent: January 17 2020

Phone: (866) 347-7782

CBD Oil and Protective Assessment

The use of CBD oil in Iowa remains illegal unless the user has been issued an Iowa medical marijuana card and has obtained the CBD oil from an Iowa dispensary. Intakes alleging a child is orally being given CBD oil should be accepted as an allegation of Presence of Illegal Drugs in the body of a child.

Caretakers need to know the law is intended to protect the child from ingesting substances that may prove harmful to the child, based on the lack of rigorous research on efficacy other than for severe seizures. CBD products could potentially contain hazardous contaminants. A 2017 study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) found of 84 products sold online, 43% had more CBD than advertised and 26% had less CBD.

The general steps for working through these types of cases include:

• Drug testing the child
• Ask parent to provide medical information they have which led to their decision to use CBD oil.
• Ask parent to provide from who, what, where and how they obtained the CBD oil.
• Ask the parent “why” – see if they connect medical information with their reason for getting CBD oil.
• If the child tests positive, the assessment needs to be confirmed.

If a parent or caretaker refuses to have the child tested and you have concerns for the child’s health or safety, you have the option of letting a parent or caretaker know Iowa Code allows for removal of a child with the approval of a judge.