DES MOINES | A legislative panel Tuesday cleared state rules to take effect Jan. 30 governing registration cards for Iowans authorized to possess marijuana-derived cannabis oil for treatment of epilepsy.
However, Deborah Thompson, policy adviser for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said her agency and the state Department of Transportation may not be in a position to actually issue the photo ID registration cards until a later date after the rules have taken effect.
DOT officials have been working with a vendor to produce the cards, part of a new state law that allows limited access to medical cannabidiol, she said. State officials are treating the cards as a priority project as they push for a launch date to physically issue the cards.
We just want to make sure that all of the pieces are there, Thompson said. I would like to think well know closer to the date what everything looks like.
It is likely that the health agency will post an application form online in advance of the card issuance so patients and parents of minor patients can submit the information needed from a licensed neurologist to qualify.
However, the bigger issue facing families of epileptic patients is getting access to a product that is expensive and only available in a limited number of places outside of Iowa due to a host of legal hurdles.
Last May the Legislature passed and Gov. Terry Branstad signed a law which granted special provisions for Iowans with a written recommendation from a neurologist to use cannabidiol as a medical treatment for epilepsy if there are no other treatment options.
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State panel OKs cannabis oil ID cards; can't apply for them yet