2021 Recommendations of the Board to the Iowa General Assembly From The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board

2021 Recommendations of the Board to the Iowa General Assembly as printed in the 2021 Annual report:

1. Amending the name of Chapter 124E to “The Medical Cannabis Act”
   
   The Board recommends renaming Chapter 124E to be the “Iowa Medical Cannabis Act”
   to reflect that products containing THC are also authorized to be sold and manufactured
   by the law, reflect scientific reality via inclusion of all cannabinoids, mitigate confusion
   with program stakeholders, and improve program education.
   
   The term “medical cannabidiol” was relevant prior to HF2589 and Iowa using a 3% THC
   limit on products. As Iowa now allows product formulations similar or the same to those
   allowed in other medical cannabis programs, it is congruent with the rest of the country
   to update the name. Since the passage of HF2589, the maintenance of the term “medical
   cannabidiol” has progressively created a knowledge and communication barrier, and
   caused confusion with law enforcement, DHS investigation personnel, and healthcare
   stakeholders who are otherwise unaware that high-THC products are legally available in
   Iowa. This confusion has also been exacerbated by the recently implemented
   “consumable hemp” program, which provides OTC hemp-derived CBD and cannabinoid
   products.
   
2. Additional Medical Cannabidiol Dispensaries
   
   The Board recommends that the Department be allowed to license dispensaries
   additional to that prescribed by Iowa Code chapter 124E, in an effort to provide Iowans
   with greater geographical access to medical cannabidiol products. Currently, chapter
   124E limits the number of dispensaries to five. This recommendation is in lieu of a
   recommendation from the Board’s 2020 Annual Report, which recommended a “satellite
   delivery” option. The Department consulted similar rural states who had considered a
   “satellite delivery” option, but opted not to implement it due to licensee feedback on
   economic viability, as well as compliance and security concerns voiced by local law
   enforcement.
   
3. Removing Sales Tax from Patient Purchases at a Dispensary
   
   In an effort to reduce the cost burden of medical cannabidiol products on patients, the
   Board recommends that the sale of medical cannabidiol products be exempt from sales
   tax.

4. Inclusion of PAs and/or ARNPs in the Medical Cannabidiol Board
   
   In an effort to be inclusive of the disciplines allowed to certify patients for the use of
   medical cannabidiol, the Board recommends expanding the nine-member Board to allow
   PAs and ARNPs to be Board Members. The current licensure requirements for Board
   members are not afforded to PAs and ARNPs, therefore, Chapter 124E would need to be
   amended to allow dedicated seats for a PA and/or ARNP.
   
5. Veteran Eligibility for the Reduced Application Fee Option
   
   The Board recommends that Chapter 124E.4 be amended to allow for
   Veterans to be eligible to receive the reduced application fee option
   pursuant to the submission of necessary documentation.