Iowa Pharmacy Board Postpones Decision on Marijuana Reclassification

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy delayed its decision on the potential reclassification of marijuana until January.

On Monday, a subcommittee of the Iowa Pharmacy Board met and heard from advocates and opponents of reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I, the most dangerous, to a Schedule II classified drug. On Wednesday, the subcommittee recommended reclassifying the drug as a Schedule II drug, due to its therapeutic benefits and a new Iowa law that legalized the use of an oil found in the marijuana plant for the treatment of patients suffering from intractable epilepsy.

The recommendation from the subcommittee also seeks to clarify marijuana’s classification in Iowa code. According to the recommendation, as a result of old experimental research programs, marijuana is classified as both Schedule I and Schedule II in Iowa.

The full state Board of Pharmacy tabled the recommendation of reclassification, in order to have more time to think about the decision. The Board Chairman Ed Maier said that the delay is primarily due to the fact that federal law and state law would be in conflict. The board voted unanimously to table the decision until its January meeting, which will be held in the first week of the month.

If approved in January, the recommendation would go to legislature for approval. If passed by legislature, it would be sent to the governor.

In 2010, the board recommended reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule II drug, however, lawmakers did not take action on the matter.

Last updated: 11/20/14; 2:10pm EST