Stephen Gruber-Miller | The Des Moines Register

Wochit

An Iowa Democrat is proposing that the state legalize and regulate marijuana the same way it does beer or liquor.

But Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, admits that the measure has "about zero" chance of passing the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Bolkcom announced the proposal at a news conference Monday morning and said he expects to introduce a bill in the next couple weeks that would set up a system to license companies to grow, manufacture and sell marijuana to adults 21 years and older.

"It is time for Iowa to end marijuana prohibition," Bolkcom said.

The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division would regulate and enforce the rules under Bolkcom's bill.

Bolkcom said legalizing marijuana will create jobs and raise enough tax revenue to cover administrative costs as well as substance-abuse awareness campaigns and treatment programs.

Stephen Gruber-Miller / The Register

He expects "a decent number" of Democratic co-sponsors for the proposal. Still, he recognized his proposal likely will not be taken up by Republicans, who control both chambers of the Iowa Legislature and the governor's office.

"I think as long as Republicans are in charge of state government, the chances of us ending marijuana prohibition are about zero," he said.

State Sen. Brad Zaun, an Urbandale Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said if Bolkcom's bill comes to his committee it won't get anywhere.

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"I’m not open-minded to recreational marijuana in the state of Iowa," Zaun said.

Still, Bolkcom said "it's time for us in Iowa to begin to have a serious discussion" about legalizing marijuana.

Michigan voters approved a legal marijuana program in November, and the governors of Illinois and Minnesota have called to do the same, so Iowa will soon have to account for the fact that neighboring states will be selling marijuana products.

"There is an enormous amount of economic activity and job creation potential by regulating marijuana like we do alcohol," Bolkcom said. "And we can sit by and watch those new businesses and new jobs go to Rock Island and Moline, Illinois, or to Rochester, Minnesota, and have Iowans take their hard-earned money and go to those states."

Bolkcom also pointed out Iowa's racial disparity in enforcing marijuana-related crimes. Black Iowans are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white Iowans, although the groups use the drug at similar rates, he said.

His bill would not address Iowans currently incarcerated for marijuana-related crimes.

Recreational marijuana is legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C., according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Bolkcom has been an advocate for expanding Iowa's medical marijuana program, which legislators passed in 2017. On Monday, he said he's skeptical that Republicans will approve any bills to expand that program this year.

Zaun said he is "very supportive" of medical marijuana in Iowa and is working hard to expand the program by adding more conditions that would be eligible for treatment and raising or eliminating the cap on THC, which is currently 3 percent.

A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll conducted in February 2018 found 58 percent against legalizing recreational marijuana, down from 69 percent in 2014. The poll also found 39 percent were in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana, up from 28 percent four years ago.

The same poll found 78 percent of Iowans supported medical marijuana, with 19 percent opposed.