IOWA SHOULD LEGALIZE AND LEAD WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy's recommendation on Wednesday to
simultaneously reclassify marijuana and create a body to oversee the
possible legalization of the plant for medical use is commendable and
realistic. Iowa legislators -- and other states -- should take note.

The board voted unanimously to recommend shifting marijuana from a
Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule II -- a switch that would
recognize the potential medical benefits and open the door for
possible legalization. While the legislation needed to change the
plant's categorization likely won't come until next year at the
earliest, the decision is still a major victory for Iowans who tout
the medical benefits of the drug.

Iowa's board is the first body of its type to take active steps toward
medical marijuana legalization. Of the 14 states that allow medicinal
use of the drug, the measure has arisen from other means, such as the
public referendum in California. While these methods of legalization
are perfectly valid, having a state body such as the Board of Pharmacy
initiate proceedings breeds an unprecedented level of control for any
change in regulation.

"Because medical marijuana is illegal, people doing research on its
effects can't do the research," said Margaret Whitworth, one of two
public members of the board. She explained that many of the studies
that provide evidence for the drug's benefits lose much of their
credibility, mainly because the size and scope of such research is
limited by the criminality of the drug.

That's not to say that there isn't evidence that points to marijuana's
health benefits. Marijuana has been shown to ease many conditions,
including vomiting, chronic pain, and nausea. And it's safer than
scores of drugs on the market; it's nearly impossible to overdose on
pot.

"There is increasing information that [marijuana] does provide medical
benefits," Whitworth said in an interview Thursday.

The board's actions represent a new wave in responsible and
intelligent debate on the big-picture effects of legalizing medical
marijuana. There are still questions concerning the extent of the
benefits and how best to control the dissemination of the drug. This
is why the board has also proposed the creation of a large body of
stakeholders who can oversee the possible transition.

If legislators decide to legalize the substance for medicinal uses,
Iowa should avoid a relatively laissez-faire approach, as California
has done. The creation of this body is a positive step toward the
measured, transitional legalization that is needed.

Whitworth said California's approach left things wide
open.

"It's basically not medical marijuana, just plain marijuana," she
said.

Amid the mounting evidence in favor of marijuana's medicinal value for
ailments ranging from HIV to glaucoma, these pre-emptive actions to
further research and better control the substance put Iowa at the
forefront of medical marijuana reform.

We applaud the board for its actions and look to our legislators to
back its recommendations. Iowa should serve as a leader in providing
information on marijuana and its medicinal benefits.