Democrats said patients’ voices are not being heard in this debate, and Bolkcom worried that an Illinois law set to start Jan. 1 that legalizes recreational marijuana and expands that state’s medical cannabis offerings will put Iowa’s five medical cannabis dispensaries at risk.

However, Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, chairman of the House Government Oversight Committee, doubted Iowa’s dispensaries would be hurt by Illinois’ law change, and said he did not see the need for an interim legislative study as proposed by Bolkcom and Forbes.

“I personally strongly support the expansion of medical cannabis, but the best process forward is the Legislature and the governor working with the advisory board over the next few months to see what exactly the best bill is that everybody can get on board with,” Kaufmann said.

While recreational marijuana is a separate issue, Bolkcom said, he noted the Iowa governor has come out in opposition to Illinois’ decision while at the same time signing into law at least four bills that expand Iowans’ access to alcoholic beverages — which he said can be bought at more than 14,500 state-licensed facilities.

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