Rescheduling of Cannabis: What Does it Mean for Iowa?

The federal government has taken steps to move cannabis from a Schedule I (the most restrictive) to a Schedule III (less restrictive) substance. So cannabis is almost legal, right?

Not even close.

Schedule I substances are those that the government has determined have no significant medical value or are at high risk for abuse. Schedule III substances have been deemed to have more medical value and less risk for abuse or addiction. Is there any evidence or logical reasoning why cannabis has been Schedule I for over 50 years? No, not really. There are a lot of reasons why cannabis was made Schedule I, but none of them are good reasons, such as racism, politics, and money.

As a Schedule I substance, cannabis was deemed more dangerous than cocaine, methamphetamines, and opioids. As such, research into the plant was immensely difficult, and possession carried a hefty punishment.

A Schedule III substance is recognized to have some identified medical value. Research on the substance to investigate its effects on disease is likely much more accepted and allowed. In theory, though maybe not in practice, possession of a Schedule III substance would mean less harsh punishments.

So is cannabis now a Schedule III? Not really.

As it stands right now, cannabis is still federally considered a Schedule I, the most restrictive and controlled substance. What the federal government has changed is the schedule classification for cannabis products associated with a state medical program. So medical cannabis from an Iowa dispensary (Iowa Cannabis Company or Bud n Mary's) is considered Schedule III for cardholders, while any "non-medical" cannabis (recreational or products from neighboring states) is still considered Schedule I in the eyes of the federal government.

As such, possession of products from anywhere other than the Iowa-approved dispensaries is still a crime, and punishment for said possession can still be harsh and can ruin lives.

So how does this change in scheduling affect Iowans?

It doesn't, really.

It is still illegal to possess cannabis in its raw form. It's still illegal to possess products from Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, or any other state. It's still illegal to possess most cannabis products, other than the low THC forms that are still technically legal through the federal Farm Bill. Possession of "recreational" cannabis is still a crime in the US and in Iowa.

It's still prudent to get a card to access cannabis for qualifying medical conditions and avoid legal issues. It is not difficult to get certified for medical cannabis, and we at Green Iowa Clinic go out of our way to make it efficient and painless. Though Iowa's medical cannabis program only allows a select number of qualifying conditions, most Iowans who are seeking medical cannabis for legit medical issues can qualify for conditions for which cannabis is effective in treating.

Please make an appointment to get an evaluation for your medical cannabis card with us at Green Iowa Clinic, Iowa's only medical cannabis clinic.

www.greeniowaclinic.com