Medical Cannabis For Law Enforcement and Public Safety
In May 2017, the Medical Cannabidiol Act was signed into law. It is codified at Iowa Code Chapter 124E and 641 IAC 154. Iowa’s licensed dispensaries began providing medical cannabidiol products to patients on December 1, 2018. Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program authorizes the manufacture and sale of products that contain both CBD and THC. In other words, it is a program that allows for the legal manufacture and sale of medical cannabis products. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services provides this educational information to assist law enforcement in understanding Iowa’s program and the rights of program stakeholders.
The information below can be downloaded and printed using the link below:
Frequently Ask Questions - "What Law Enforcement Needs to Know"
Iowa patients or caregivers are issued a “medical cannabidiol registration card” by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Effective July 6, 2022, the OMC has begun issuing digital registration cards to patients and caregivers. These cards will live on the cardholder's mobile device, or they may have a printed version of the card that has been issued to them. Law Enforcement should be aware that for a period of time they may encounter both of the cards listed in this section.
The embedded QR code may be scanned by law enforcement to determine the validity of the card.
The digital card will be included as an attachment and will look like the below:
Law enforcement officials who need to verify registration card validity may call the Medical Cannabis Program Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm at 1-877-214-9313
As codified in 641 IAC 154.14 Iowa patients or caregivers may possess THC-containing cannabis or marijuana products in the following forms:
Vaporizable
Oral forms - tablets, capsules, liquids, tinctures and sublingual forms
Topical forms - gels, ointments, creams, lotions and transdermal patches
Nebulizable inhaled forms
Suppositories - rectal and vaginal
Products in the forms listed above, are legal for possession by registered Iowa patients and Iowa caregivers, regardless of where the products were manufactured. Individuals who have a valid registration card, or its equivalent, issued under the laws of another state are also allowed to possess products in the forms listed in 641 IAC 154.14, however, out of state card holders are not permitted to purchase products from dispensaries located in Iowa.
No flower (loose leaf, “joints,” etc.) or THC-infused edibles (“gummies,” chocolates, etc.) are allowed.
Persons with valid, out-of-state medical cannabis or marijuana registration cards may also possess products in the forms listed above. See Iowa Code section 124E.18.
There is not a medical cannabis product quantity possession limit for registered cardholders and caregivers.
Iowa’s manufacturers are located at:
MedPharm Iowa - 1953 E. Market St., Des Moines, IA 50317
Iowa Cannabis Company - 2727 Scott Blvd, Iowa City, IA 52240
Iowa currently has five operational dispensaries, located at the following addresses:
MedPharm Iowa – 5700 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City, IA 51106
MedPharm Iowa – 7239 Apple Valley Drive, Windsor Heights, IA 50324
Iowa Cannabis Company – 1955 La Porte Road, Waterloo, IA 50702
Iowa Cannabis Company - 3615 9th Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Iowa Cannabis Company - 382 Highway 1 W, Iowa City, IA 52245
