Iowa lawmaker: Medical marijuana is an FDA decision

Iowa House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, who has years of professional experience as a cardiology nurse practitioner, said Thursday any decision on legalizing medical marijuana should be determined by the federal Food and Drug Administration, not state lawmakers.

"If this is a legitimate medication, it really means the FDA needs to weigh in on this issue. That is what we do with other medications. I think that makes sense," Upmeyer told reporters at the Iowa Capitol.

Upmeyer, a Clear Lake Republican with a master's degree in nursing, was joined by House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, who made it clear he believes the medical marijuana issue is dead in the House.

"I don't expect us to debate a bill on medical cannabis this year," said Paulsen, a Hiawatha Republican.

The strong stance against legislative action in the GOP-led House runs counter to what's happening in the Democratic-led Iowa Senate. The Senate is expected to soon debate a bill legalizing medical marijuana for a list of illnesses, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other chronic and debilitating ailments.

The Food and Drug Administration has not approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug, although many states permit medical use of the drug. The agency has, however, approved one drug containing a synthetic version of a substance that is present in the marijuana plant and another drug containing a synthetic substance that acts similarly to compounds from marijuana but is not present in marijuana.

PREVIOUSLY: Iowa Senate weighs debate on medical marijuana

"The FDA's drug approval process requires that clinical trials be designed and conducted in a way that provide the agency with the necessary scientific data upon which the FDA can make its approval decisions," according to an agency statement "Without this review, the FDA cannot determine whether a drug product is safe and effective. It also cannot ensure that a drug product meets appropriate quality standards. For certain drugs that have not been approved by the FDA, such as marijuana, the lack of FDA approval and oversight means that the purity and potency of the drug may vary considerably."

Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said Thursday he hasn't read the Senate's medical marijuana bill and he won't make a decision on how he will vote on it until Senate Democrats decide to schedule it for floor debate.

About 75 supporters of medical marijuana, many with serious ailments, rallied at the Iowa Capitol earlier this week in support of legalizing the drug. Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, has expressed no interest in expanding legislation authorized last year that decriminalizes the use of marijuana oil for children suffering from severe epileptic seizures. Branstad has said he is concerned about "unintended consequences" of legalizing medical marijuana.