Medical Marijuana Hearings

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy will be holding four public hearings around the State to receive evidence and testimony regarding the pros and cons of medical marijuana from the scientific, medical, and legal perspective. The Board is interested in hearing from medical practitioners including physicians, mid-level practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and hospice workers; patients; care-givers; law enforcement personnel; regulatory agencies; legislators; educators; scientists; researchers; other interested parties; and members of the general public.

Specifically, the Board is seeking information including, but not limited to, the following:

Marijuana's actual or relative potential for abuse
Marijuana's pharmacological effect
Current scientific knowledge regarding marijuana
The history and current pattern of abuse of marijuana
The scope, duration, and significance of abuse of marijuana
The risk to the public health from moving marijuana to a different controlled substance schedule
The potential of marijuana to produce psychic or physiological dependence liability, and
Whether marijuana is an immediate precursor of a substance on some other controlled substance schedule

Dates, Locations, and Procedure

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 — 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Iowa State Historical Building (Auditorium)
600 East Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 — 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m
The Music Man Square (Reunion Hall)
308 South Pennsylvania Avenue
Mason City, Iowa

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 — Noon to 7:00 p.m.
University of Iowa
Bowen Science Building (3rd Floor Auditorium)
51 Newton Road
Iowa City, Iowa

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 — 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Harrah's Casino & Hotel (Ballroom I)
One Harrah's Boulevard
Council Bluffs, Iowa

Oral testimony will be received but will be limited to approximately five to ten minutes per person, based on the number of speakers attending each hearing. Additional time may be allowed if circumstances permit.

An appointment to make oral comments at a specified time on August 19, September 2, October 7, or November 4 may be pre-arranged by contacting Debbie Jorgenson at the Iowa Board of Pharmacy at (515) 281-6674 or by sending a written request via e-mail to debbie.jorgenson@ibpe.state.ia.us.

All oral comments will be recorded by a certified shorthand reporter. The submission of written comments is encouraged. The deadline for submitting written comments is Wednesday, November 4, 2009. Written comments should include your name and address may be sent via e-mail to debbie.jorgenson@ibpe.state.ia.us or via regular mail to: Iowa Board of Pharmacy, RiverPoint Business Park, 400 SW 8th Street, Suite E, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-4688. All oral testimony and written comments received by the Board will be public information.

The public is invited to attend and observe the hearings.

Medical Marijuana Hearings

Dates, Locations, and Procedure

Related Link Category

Miscellaneous