OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
STATE CAPITOL
DES MOINES, IOWA 50319
515-281-5211

Ladd Huffman
210 South 2nd Street
Box 102
Calumet, Iowa 51009

Dear Mr. Huffman:

Thank you again for your recent letter regarding medicinal use of marijuana.

As I state previously, Iowa law does not prohibit the use of medically prescribed marijuana, however federal law currently preempts it.   Iowa Code section 124.206(7)(a) classifies marijuana as a Schedule II controlled substance when the marijuana is used for medicinal purposes.  There is no similar provision in current federal law.  Until marijuana is removed from Schedule I of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and placed in a classification which would allow legal medical use and distribution, it can be, available only through a federal research program.

If federal restrictions relating to the medicinal use of marijuana are eased, Iowa law would not prevent medicinal use.

Sincerely,
Paula S. Dierenfeld
Administrative Counsel

PSD:clr