• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Bill would lower fees for patients, businesses in Iowa’s medical marijuana program

Bill would lower fees for patients, businesses in Iowa’s medical marijuana program

February 12, 2021 By O. Kay Henderson

Medical marijuana plants.

Two senators who helped launch the state’s medical marijuana program have begun working on a bill that would dramatically reduce the fee for the state-issued card given to Iowans who qualify for the program.

Senator Brad Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, said his main aim is to make the products more accessible to more Iowans.

“It’s pretty ridiculous that you could go to a casino a heck of a lot easier than you can go to a medical dispensary for cannabis,” Zaun said.

The bill would lower the cost for a medical cannabis card from $100 a year to just $10 every other year.

“On the fees, I’m not interested in making money,” Zaun said. “These are people that are going through some tough time times, mostly if you’re a cancer patient or any kind of physical ailment that you have.”

The bill would dramatically reduce the fees paid by the companies that are licensed to grow, produce and sell medical marijuana products in Iowa. Senator Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City, said the fees have to cover the $600,000-$700,000 it costs a state agency to oversees the program.

“At the same time, I’m sympathetic to the issues that the manufacturer and the dispensaries have brought,” Bolkcom said. “These have been hefty fees and over the last couple of years the department has actually reduced the annual registration fee for the companies which has been helpful, but maybe not enough.”

Bolkcom said he “totally supports” the state tax deduction for the businesses that’s included in the bill, so they can write off expenses. Bolkcom and Zaun have voted to move the bill out of a Senate subcommittee, but that’s just the first stop in a lengthy process that both senators expects will lead to changes in the bill.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Legislature, medical marijuana

Featured Stories

ISU research finds health benefits for chickens watching virtual reality

Fish kill at Storm Lake linked to virus that impacts only carp

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa’s Jones adjusting to move to center

Iowa unranked to open the season

UNI’s Spencer Cuvelier bounces back from injury

Hutchinson calls Iowa State a perfect fit

Northern Iowa’s Farley touts new practice facility

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC