Vander Plaats: Legalize cannabis oil production in Iowa

Christian conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats urged lawmakers Wednesday to "finish the job" and create access to cannabis oil for Iowa families, but legislators remained skeptical it would happen.

Vander Plaats, who is president of The Family Leader, said he was not speaking on behalf of the organization, but as a father. His third son, Lucas, was born with a severe brain condition and suffers from seizures.

Lucas wouldn't benefit from the current law, because it only covers individuals with epilepsy. Even so, Vander Plaats said he empathizes with parents seeking solutions to help their children.

"We've seen what happens when children have seizures and the different maneuvers we need to make and the games you need to play to get the right seizure medication to control the seizure that would limit or reduce the side effects greatly," he said from the statehouse. "Now, as Iowans, we believe we need to take the next step and figure out how it is we get this medical cannabis oil into the hands of parents so their children can benefit from it."

Vander Plaats said he and his wife were "applauding and cheering silently from the sidelines" last year as the state decriminalized possession of marijuana extract for patients with epilepsy.

However, the law did not make it legal to grow or sell the product in Iowa, he noted. Individuals looking to purchase it must obtain ID cards allowing them to possess oil purchased from other states. After that they face another hurdle: Of the 23 states permitting the use of medical marijuana, 20 states require proof of residency.

He pushed the state to legalize the production, purchase and possession of cannabis oil to treat debilitating medical conditions.

Support uncertain

Although Vander Plaats is a strong conservative voice, Iowa legislators said they didn't think it would be enough to sway the debate.

"I support Bob's stance on medical marijuana, I think it's very forward thinking and I appreciate his thoughts there," said Rep. Rob Taylor, R-West Des Moines. "As far as if anything gets done in the legislature this year on the House side, I don't see it happening. I really don't."

Taylor, who worked behind the scenes to move the issue forward last year, said he is sympathetic to the cause. But in order to expand current law, he and members of his caucus would like to see action from the federal government.

He noted a bill introduced earlier this week by U.S. Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) that would reclassify marijuana and prevent federal agencies from intervening in state medical marijuana laws.

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Currently, the federal government has indicated it would be unwilling to do that, but Taylor noted the 2016 presidential election would bring a new administration with a new attorney general. He would like assurances that the state's marijuana laws wouldn't expose it to risk.

Steve Gaer, mayor of West Des Moines and an outspoken advocate for expanding access to cannabis oil, also expressed doubt the Iowa legislation will move forward this year.

"We're hearing from some legislators now that they've heard a lot from the families and the parents and they know what the situation is," Gaer said. "Now they want to hear from the medical providers."

Bill advances in Senate

Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Adair, said he's waiting to see the results of a study being conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa testing the safety and efficacy of cannabis oil. That information would help him make a decision about expanding the law, he said.

But for now, he said, he thinks there is "no chance" the House would consider passing a bill introduced by Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, that would expand the current law.

That bill, which passed out of a Senate subcommittee Wednesday afternoon, would make medical marijuana available to individuals with a broader range of conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis and other chronic diseases.

In a recent Iowa Poll, 70 percent of adults say they favor legalizing marijuana for medical uses. That's up from 59 percent a year ago and 58 percent two years ago.

Vander Plaats said he didn't support any specific legislation, but if the product is shown to be safe and effective, he would support its use for other conditions.

He said Iowa has the resources to grow marijuana, harvest it, process it and dispense the cannabis oil "with ethics and integrity." He said the state's universities have resources that could be used to help make that happen.

Waiting for an answer

Maggie Adams, of Mason City, began to tear up when Vander Plaats concluded his remarks. She was at the Capitol with her daughter, Cassie Heland, and her grandson, Caleb.

Caleb is 10 and suffers from epilepsy. He has daily seizures that are growing worse, Heland said, and they've run out of possible medications to try.

They've begun cycling back through drugs they've already found to be ineffective while working to obtain an ID for the cannabis oil.

"It's horrible to know that we could try something that's proven to be working in other states for other kids and we can't get it," she said.

"It's a horrible feeling, especially when I call his neurologist weekly and she says she's heartbroken to tell me there's still nothing left to try. But you still have to call and ask."