Recognition of Extraordinary Work

Recognition of Extraordinary Work

641 Iowa Administrative Code 154
Rules 641—154.15(124E) to 641—154.65(124E)

October 13, 2017

I would like to compliment the Iowa Department of Public Health for the extraordinarily good work it is doing implementing the Medical Cannabidiol Act.  2017 Iowa Acts 451, Chapter 162 (H.F. 524), Iowa Code § 124E (2017).

As I stated in my comments on September 15, 2017, something should be added to the Iowa statutes or the Iowa regulations (or both) regarding compliance with the existing federal Controlled Substances Act.  Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, Public law 91-513, 84 Stat. 1236, 1242, 21 U.S.C. ch. 13 §§ 801 et seq.

The U.S. Court of Appeals has clarified that the federal act does not define the term “medical use,” Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics v. DEA, 930 F.2d 936, 939 (D.C. Cir. 1991) (“neither the statute nor its legislative history precisely defines the term ‘currently accepted medical use’”), and the U.S. Supreme Court has clarified that the term “medical use” under the federal act is defined by state statute.  Gonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243, 258 (2006):

The Attorney General has rulemaking power to fulfill his duties under the CSA.  The specific respects in which he is authorized to make rules, however, instruct us that he is not authorized to make a rule declaring illegitimate a medical standard for care and treatment of patients that is specifically authorized under state law.

The Iowa Department of Public Health has flawlessly interpreted state and federal law by including the following statement on the “Owner Certification” form that all Iowa medical cannabidiol manufacturers and dispensaries must sign:

I further acknowledge I have actual notice that, notwithstanding any state law, Cannabis is a prohibited Schedule I controlled substance under Federal law; any activity not sanctioned by Iowa Code chapter 124E and proposed administrative rules may be a violation of state or federal law and could result in arrest, prosecution, conviction, or incarceration and that the $7,500 license application fee is non-refundable.

http://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-cZdbYdPoLGSnZRQWtBUnFTd2c/view?usp=sharing

This is an extremely important detail.  This topic has come up again and again regarding federal law and state medical marijuana programs.  Other states have failed to address it. We are clearly not authorizing federal criminal activity in Iowa.

After submitting my comments on September 15, 2017, I became aware of a federal transportation regulation from 1973 that makes this abundantly clear.

91.19 Carriage of narcotic drugs, marihuana, and depressant or stimulant drugs or substances.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate a civil aircraft within the United States with knowledge that narcotic drugs, marihuana, and depressant or stimulant drugs or substances as defined in Federal or State statutes are carried in the aircraft.
(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to any carriage of narcotic drugs, marihuana, and depressant or stimulant drugs or substances authorized by or under any Federal or State statute or by any Federal or State agency.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2f570630a822fec80462ab1f3f4dc714&mc=true&node=se14.2.91_119&rgn=div8

Originally, §91.12.  Federal Register, Vol. 38, No. 126, Monday, July 2, 1973, p. 17493 (a copy is attached hereto).

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Carl Olsen, Executive Director
Iowans for Medical Marijuana, Iowa Business No. 334412
Post Office Box 41381, Des Moines, Iowa 50311-0507
http://www.iowamedicalmarijuana.org/