Pubdate: Thu, 18 Feb 2010
Source: Globe-Gazette (Mason City, IA)
Copyright: 2010 Globe-Gazette
Contact: http://www.globegazette.com/help/contact_us/letter_to_editor/
Website: http://www.globegazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1568
Author: Charlotte Eby, Des Moines Bureau
Cited: Iowa Board of Pharmacy http://www.iowa.gov/ibpe/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Iowa+Board+of+Pharmacy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

BOARD OF PHARMACY RECOMMENDS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

DES MOINES -- The Iowa Board of Pharmacy voted Wednesday to recommend 
to state lawmakers they reclassify marijuana and set up a task force 
to study how to administer a medical marijuana program.

A total of 14 states have so far approved the use of marijuana for 
medical purposes, with New Jersey recently joining the list.

The board last year held a series of meetings around the state to 
garner public input and medical testimony on the issue.

The board, made up of pharmacists and private citizens, brought up a 
number of practical concerns about allowing medical marijuana. Those 
concerns included not being able to control dosages and the potential 
for abuse, as well as problems distributing it.

But ultimately, they voted 6-0 to recommend the change.

Marijuana currently is classified as a Schedule 1 drug. That 
classification is for drugs that have no proven or medical use and a 
high potential for abuse and are authorized for research only. The 
board is recommending it be reclassified as a Schedule 2 drug, which 
means it can have a high potential for abuse but has accepted medical 
uses for treatment.

Bills that would have allowed the medical use of marijuana in Iowa 
failed to meet an initial deadline to stay alive this session of the 
Iowa Legislature, but whether those measures could see a revival in 
light of the board's decision were not immediately clear.

House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, has said in the past he didn't 
believe support existed among majority Democrats to allow medical 
marijuana use in Iowa. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake