Medical Cannabidiol Information for Law Enforcement and Public Safety

• In May 2017, the Medical Cannabidiol Act was signed into law. It is codified at Iowa Code Chapter 124E and 641 IAC 154. Iowa’s licensed dispensaries began providing medical cannabidiol products to patients on December 1, 2018. Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program authorizes the manufacture and sale of products that contain both CBD and THC. In other words, it is a program that allows for the legal manufacture and sale of medical cannabis products. The Iowa  Department of Public Health provides this educational information to assist law enforcement in understanding Iowa’s program and the rights of program stakeholders.
• The information below can be downloaded and printed using the link below:
  • Medical Cannabidiol Law Enforcement One-Pager  
• For any questions, the Office of Medical Cannabidiol can be reached by phone at 515-725-2076, or email at medical.cannabidiol@idph.iowa.gov.   

Frequently Ask Questions - "What Law Enforcement Needs to Know"

What is the Iowa “Medical Cannabidiol Program?”

• Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program authorizes the manufacture and sale of products that contain both CBD and THC. In other words, it is a program that allows for the legal manufacture and sale of medical cannabis products. Products may be legally purchased, and possessed by registered Iowa cardholders, and their caregivers. Medical cannabis cardholders in other states are also allowed to possess medical cannabis products in Iowa, provided that the products are in a form authorized by 641 IAC 154.14.

How do I identify a legally registered patient or caregiver?

• Iowa patients or caregivers are issued a “medical cannabidiol registration card” by the Iowa Department of Public Health (pictured below):
• 
• Effective July 6, 2022, the OMC has began issuing digital registration cards to patients and caregivers. These cards will live on the cardholders mobile device, or they may have a printed version of the card that has been issued to them. Law Enforcement should be aware that for a perio dof time, they may encounter both of the cards listed in this section. The digital card looks like the below:
• 
• The embedder QR code may be scanned by law enforcement to determine the validity of the card.
• The digital card will be included as an attachment and will look like the below:
  • Digital Registration Card Attachment ​
• A guidance document for Law Enforcement for card verification is also linked below:
  • Memorandum: Medical Cannabidiol Digital Registration Cards 
• ​Law enforcement officials who need to verify registration card validity may call the Bureau of Medical Cannabidiol (BMC) Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm at (515)-725-2076

What products can registered patients and caregivers legally possess?

• As codified in 641 IAC 154.14 Iowa patients or caregivers may possess THC-containing cannabis or marijuana products in the following forms:
  • Vaporizable
  • Oral forms - tablets, capsules, liquids, tinctures and sublingual forms
  • Topical forms - gels, ointments, creams, lotions and transdermal patches
  • Nebulizable inhaled forms
  • Suppositories - rectal and vaginal
• Products in the forms listed above, are legal for possession by registered Iowa patients and Iowa caregivers, regardless of where the products were manufactured. Individuals who have a valid registration card, or its equivalent, issued under the laws of another state are also allowed to possess products in the forms listed in 641 IAC 154.14, however, out of state card holders are not permitted to purchase products from dispensaries located in Iowa.

What products are illegal for registered patients and caregivers to possess?

• No flower (loose leaf, “joints,” etc.) or THC-infused edibles (“gummies,” chocolates, etc.) are allowed.

What products can out-of-state patients with out-of-state registration cards possess?

• Persons with valid, out-of-state medical cannabis or marijuana registration cards may also possess products in the forms listed above. See Iowa Code section 124E.18.

Is there a limit on the amount of product that a patient can possess?

• There is not a medical cannabidiol product quantity possession limit for registered cardholders and caregivers.

Where are the medical cannabidiol licensees?

• Iowa’s  manufacturers are located at: 
  • MedPharm Iowa - 1953 E. Market St., Des Moines, IA 50317
  • Iowa Cannabis Company - 2727 Scott Blvd, Iowa City, IA 52240
• Iowa currently has five operational dispensaries, located at the following addresses:
  • MedPharm Iowa – 5700 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City, IA 51106
  • MedPharm Iowa – 7239 Apple Valley Drive, Windsor Heights, IA 50324
  • Iowa Cannabis Company – 1955 La Porte Road, Waterloo, IA 50702
  • Iowa Cannabis Company - 3615 9th Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
  • Iowa Cannabis Company - 382 Highway 1 W, Iowa City, IA 52245

Manufacturer and Dispensary Site Security

• Manufacturer Security and Alarm Requirements 
• Dispensary Security and Alarm Requirements 

Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Laws and Rules

• Statute – Iowa Code Chapter 124E 
• Administrative Rules – 641-154