The Iowa Board of Pharmacy held its third hearing on the possibility of legalizing marijuana for medical uses Wednesday in Iowa City.
Lisa Jackson of Crawfordsville was among several people claiming marijuana is the only thing they can take get pain relief. Jackson suffers from fibromyalgia — a condition that causes pain in the tissue around joints and in muscles.
Jackson says the medication she has to take on a daily basis is more lethal to her and her family than is marijuana. University of Iowa pharmaceutical researcher, Ron Herman, says his studies show marijuana benefits must be weighed against risks.
Jackson says for instance, marijuana will reduce pressure in the eye from glaucoma, but he says it will also increase blood pressure to a level that would probably be to “the detriment of the individual.” There were boos among the some 50 people in the room when Mount Vernon Schools substance abuse coordinator Jennifer Husmann urged the panel to not legalize marijuana use. Husmann said legalizing medical marijuana would make it more available and acceptable for teens.
The Pharmacy Board’s holds a final hearing November 4th in Council Bluffs.