DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Our Position: Lawmakers ducking responsibility on medical marijuana

After more than a year of study, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy in
February unanimously recommended that the Legislature legalize
marijuana for medical uses. The board also called for lawmakers to
change the classification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug.

In announcing its decision, the board noted that a decades-old piece
of Iowa law already appeared to allow that, but members said the
intent of the law was unclear.

Under current definitions, Schedule II drugs, like those categorized
as Schedule I, have the potential for abuse but also have accepted
medical uses. Schedule I drugs have no currently accepted medical use.

At the time the decision was announced in February, there were 14
states with medical marijuana laws although regulations in New Jersey
hadn't taken effect at that time. The board's recommendation made
Iowa's the first state pharmacy panel to take such a stance before
either legislators or voters took steps to legalize marijuana for medical use.

The board's recommendation called for the Legislature to create a
committee that would propose how to administer a medical marijuana
program in Iowa. The panel would include people who use marijuana for
medical reasons as well as representatives from the Board of
Pharmacy, other health boards and public safety organizations.
Pharmacy board members suggested they preferred the medical marijuana
regulations in place in New Mexico.

"What the Board of Pharmacy feels is important is that this isn't
just a one-group issue, but that we need to bring in all other
disciplines and the patients," Susan Frey, a board member and
pharmacist said in February.

Now, four months later and looking down the road at what promises to
be a contentious election season, Iowa lawmakers have called off
plans to have a committee study the legalization of medical
marijuana, saying such a decision could be made by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy noted Monday that an old state
law says the board may set the rules, so there's no need for a
committee. The Des Moines Democrat says the ball is in the board's court now.

The board's executive director, Lloyd Jessen, said Monday that the
board doesn't want that responsibility and needs direction from
elected leaders.

The ball - or should we say the marijuana hot potato - is back in the
Legislature's court ... and, with relatively few votes to be gained
but a lot to be lost, it appears lawmakers don't want to deal with it.

They sought office to make decisions, and it's time to do the job for
which they were elected.