DES MOINES | A small army of never-say-die parents and children many in wheelchairs impacted by epilepsy flooded the Capitol rotunda Friday to watch Gov. Terry Branstad sign a law giving them access to relief-providing cannabis oil that they didn't think was possible several months ago.
Branstad said he approved the measure to take effect July 1 after consulting with other governors in conservative states who signed similar measures. He said Senate File 236 strikes an appropriate balance of oversight, regulation and empathy in providing narrowly targeted immunity in Iowa for the possession of cannabis oil as a treatment for chronic epilepsy.
"I am elated and so incredibly happy to see the governor put his name down on that piece of paper for this bill. This is truly an amazing day," said April Stumpf of Riverside, whose daughter of nearly two years suffers from epilepsy.
"When you're the parent of a special-needs child, you never give up," added Sally Gaer, a West Des Moines woman whose daughter suffers from intractable epilepsy.
The measure Branstad signed would give prosecutorial immunity to people who possess cannabidiol, a non-smokable oil extract of marijuana with a low THC level to treat seizures. It would require patients or their caregivers to obtain a state-issued registration card to possess the drug and to have a neurologist's recommendation to obtain the license. The act is repealed July 1, 2017.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, credited the tenacity of the mothers who refused to accept naysayers who called the bill dead for the 2014 session for making Friday's bill-signing ceremony possible.
"This was a testament to loving mothers with kids in terrible circumstances and nearly untreatable epilepsy. They became the face of this issue, and that's why this issue passed," Gronstal said. "The truth is Iowa is still a place where ordinary citizens can make an impact on decisions."
During the legislative debate, opponents worried that young people who read headlines that Iowa was legalizing a marijuana derivative would get the wrong impression. Others expressed concern over the lack of FDA approval and potential long-term effects of cannabis oil use. Critics also were concerned that lawmakers next session will be asked to expand access to people dealing with cancer or other painful, chronic conditions.
The law's provision to be eligible to possess and/or use medical cannabidiol would apply only to permanent Iowa residents at least 18 years of age with a written recommendation from a neurologist and registration card for the medical treatment of "intractable" epilepsy. No other medical conditions are eligible.
Many parents who attended the bill-signing ceremony said Friday was a first step because now they face challenges of getting an Iowa neurologist's recommendation to take cannabis oil as treatment and then they likely will have to travel to places such as Colorado, Oregon or Michigan where the product is legally dispensed.
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UPDATE: Branstad signs cannabis oil, HIV transmission bills