Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Iowa?

Related

• How to Get Your Iowa Medical Marijuana Card
• Qualifying Conditions and Requirements for an Iowa Medical Card

How do I Get Medical Marijuana Legally in Iowa?

Only patients with valid Iowa medical cards can buy medical marijuana from authorized dispensaries in the state. Before applying for the Iowa medical card, patients must get a certification from a licensed medical marijuana doctor. Afterward, certified patients should submit their applications online via the IDPH Portal.

Scheduling an appointment with a medical marijuana doctor in Iowa through Quick Med Cards is easy. To begin, fill out this information form and create your account. Next, pick a time that is convenient for you. You will have your consultation through a video call which generally takes 10 to 15 minutes.

The physician’s recommendation will be valid for 90 days after your consultation.

It’s important to note that the doctor can only recommend medicinal cannabis to patients diagnosed with certain medical conditions as determined by the Iowa Medical Cannabis Program.

Usually, the doctor will consider cannabis treatment if you’re suffering from either:

• A condition normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence
• A condition that causes severe, debilitating psychiatric disorders

Go here to see the Iowa medical marijuana 2025 list of conditions.

Submit Your Iowa Medical Marijuana Application

As mentioned earlier, your medical marijuana doctor must sign your Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form (marijuana certification) before you can apply online. Only then can you complete your Iowa medical marijuana application on the IDPH portal.

When applying for your Iowa medical marijuana card, you must meet several requirements. They include:

• Adult patients must be at least 18 years old.
• Only residents of Iowa can apply for a medical marijuana card.

Note: Minor patients (under 18 years of age) must have a registered and approved caregiver apply on their behalf. Also, out-of-state applicants are not eligible for a medical card in Iowa.

Which documents are needed to complete the Iowa medical marijuana application?

When applying for the Iowa medical card, there are several documents applicants must provide to complete their application:

• A Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form signed and completed by an Iowa marijuana doctor
• Photo identification, such as:
  • Iowa driver’s license
  • Iowa non-operator identification card
• Proof of financial assistance if you are eligible for the reduced fee, such as:
  • Social Security Disability Benefit notice (SSDI notice)
  • Supplemental Security Income Payment (SSI receipt)
  • Iowa Medicaid member card
  • Hawk-I member card

Go here to get a signed Healthcare Practitioner Certification Form from one of our Iowa medical marijuana doctors.

About the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Act

Iowa’s first steps towards medical marijuana legalization were made back in May 2014 – when state lawmakers enacted one of the first Iowa marijuana laws – which allowed a case-by-case possession of low-THC cannabis oils for qualifying patients. Thankfully, the legislature was revisited in the following years, once in 2017 through House Bill 524, which gave the MCP its status of legitimacy, and again in 2020 through House Bill 2589. 

Being the most recent version of Iowa’s medical marijuana law, it entered into effect on July 1st, 2020, following its signing at the end of June. Among its other positive modifications, the revision significantly lengthened the list of qualifying conditions, with chronic pain and PTSD as two major additions for patients all around the state. 

Currently, Iowa’s Medical Cannabis Program remains in a fully functioning state, yet it does so in a rather restricted manner, as opposed to the MMPs of some of its more open-minded neighbors, such as Illinois. For one, Iowa medical marijuana laws indicate that dispensaries are allowed to provide only cannabis preparations, not actual raw hemp flower smokable products or CBD-infused edibles. Moreover, access to THC-based medication is limited to a maximum 90-day supply capped at 4.5 grams, a quantity that is oftentimes insufficient for most of Iowa’s medical cannabis patients.

However, patients can apply for a THC waiver, which allows them to exceed the standard 4.5g THC limit per 90 days. Patients with terminal illnesses can request this waiver when submitting their initial application. Meanwhile, other patients can have their original certifying practitioner complete the waiver form while participating in the program.

Iowa Medical Cannabis Laws

As a patient dealing with medical marijuana products in your day-to-day life, you ought to be aware of the following rules:

• Your patient status provides access to a 90-day supply of THC-compound marijuana, capped at 4.5 grams unless extended based on your condition. Possessing marijuana beyond your limit is not permitted.
• The only authorized locations for marijuana purchases are state-approved dispensaries. Personal sales are prohibited, and you should not engage with them.
• Your patient status does not allow you to grow cannabis plants under any circumstances. All medical cannabis must be legally purchased from a licensed dispensary.
• Hashish-based products and other marijuana concentrates are treated as Schedule I drugs. Regulations for possession align with Iowa’s controlled substance laws.

Key Takeaways

Common Questions About Iowa’s Medical Cannabis Program

Do you still have questions about the Medical Cannabis Program in Iowa? You may find your answer below.