- Iowa Medical Marijuana & CBD Oil – Is it Legal?
Iowa Medical Marijuana & CBD Oil – Is it Legal?
CBD oil has been making its way through the health and wellness sectors, with media outlets like The Washington Post calling it the “new ‘it’ drug.” CBD has picked up traction because it has a large potential to provide relief for numerous ailments like depression, anxiety, and epilepsy. If you’re an interested CBD oil Iowa user, that means you are most likely aware of the CBD buzz. If not, there is no need to worry. This article will not only touch on the benefits of CBD but also if it’s legal in Iowa, where to buy it, and even explain Iowa medical marijuana use.
What Is CBD? What’s The Buzz
A cannabinoid is one of the many chemical compounds that make up cannabis. The second-most concentrated cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant is Cannabidiol or CBD. Though cannabinoids are predominately associated with cannabis; many living things contain them. An important cannabinoid in the human body is Cannabinoid Receptor 1 or CB1, which plays an important role in the nervous system.
A second popular cannabinoid is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is most commonly associated with marijuana. It is the chemical compound in the plant that causes users to feel “high.” CBD, on the other hand, is non-psychoactive. That means it will not get you high and furthermore, it will not show up on a drug test.
Hemp Vs. Marijuana
What’s The Difference?
Many people confuse marijuana and hemp as the same thing because they both come from the Cannabis family of plants. Aside from this small shared similarity, the two are vastly different. The two plants differ not just in uses, but in shape, size, and even the way there are grown.
When it comes to usage, marijuana has very little options. You can either take it medicinally or recreationally. Hemp, however, can be used in a variety of ways in which marijuana cannot. Alongside medicinal use, hemp can be used industrially and the plant has a long history throughout humanity. It is even believed that the Declaration of Independence was signed on hemp paper.
Marijuana is flat, short, and bushy. In comparison, hemp is taller and skinner. Marijuana needs to be grown in very controlled environments which is often why it is grown indoors. Meanwhile, hemp can grow nearly anywhere. All it needs is good soil, some water, and sun. The most important difference for CBD oil Iowa users to pay attention to is how CBD oil is derived.
CBD oil can be derived from either marijuana and hemp. CBD derived from marijuana will contain high levels of THC while CBD-hemp derived oil will contain high levels of CBD. CBD from marijuana comes from the plant’s flowers while CBD from hemp is extracted from hemp seeds. Interested CBD oil Iowa users should make sure when buying CBD products that it’s hemp derived.
Is CBD oil legal in Iowa?
So now you know the three most important pillars: what CBD is, the difference between hemp and marijuana, and the benefits of CBD. If you’re a hopeful CBD oil Iowa user, your next question will be is CBD oil legal in Iowa. The answer: Yes. Thanks to the 2017 Medical Cannabidiol Act signed by then-GovernorTerry Branstad, the use of CBD became legal.
Even if the Medical Cannabidiol Act wasn’t signed, CBD would still be legal in the state. The reason for this is the 2018 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill legalized hemp production and removed it from the Controlled Substance Act. This unclassified hemp as marijuana. Per the bill, the sale of hemp is allowed as long as it contains below 0.3% THC. That means, by default, CBD derived from hemp that contains below 0.3% THC is legal too.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Iowa?
Iowa medical marijuana starts its history in the late 1970s.The state had administrative rules that allowed for the medical use of marijuana through a therapeutic research center from 1979 to 1981. Despite ok-ing medical marijuana, a research program was never implemented.
In a poll sponsored by Des Moines Register and Mediacom, 48% of Iowans favored legalizing Iowa marijuana for recreational purposes. Despite a close majority of residents wanting to legalize marijuana, Iowa has failed to decriminalize the plant on three separate occasions dating back to the 1970s, and then later in 2014 and 2015. So, recreational use of marijuana is illegal but what aboutIowa medical marijuana use?
The answer to the question is medical marijuana legal in Iowa is sort of. While medical marijuana is legal, Iowa classifies medical marijuana as CBD. The law is “fake” legalization since the state is not giving residents access to something they didn’t have before. The 2018 Farm Bill had already legalized CBD-hemp products by legalizing hemp farming.
In an Associated Press article Sarah Reisetter, the deputy director of the Iowa Department of Public Health said it best: “I think the biggest thing that people should realize, and one of the things that’s kind of confusing, is that the products available in these dispensaries are not what most people think about when they think about marijuana — there won’t be smoking products, there won’t be joints, there won’t be edibles,” Reisetter said.
Hemp For Pain Relief
Everyone has been in pain at some point in their life. When we are in pain it’s hard to focus on anything else but that. Doing daily activities, even socializing with friends can become a chore when we are in pain. Fortunately, there is growing evidence to suggest CBD may be used to relieve pain.
CBD may provide pain relief by influencing brain receptors like CB2. The CB2 receptor plays a role in pain management in the body. In fact, a research study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, effectively concluded thatnon-psychotropic cannabinoids [CBD] could contribute to several therapeutic benefits.The researchers found that their results were “relevant to the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids.”
Hemp For Anxiety
Sweaty hands, chest pains, your elbows and knees locked in place, sometimes your mouth runs dry and your heart pounds. In whatever shape it comes in most people have experienced the unpleasantries of anxiety. Though occasional anxiety is normal, when anxiety occurs frequently it is classified as a disorder.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an estimated 40 million adults in the U.s. are diagnosed with some kind of anxiety disorder and over 3 million new cases are diagnosed each year. There are many different forms anxiety disorders can take. The most common ones include:
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Depression
A continual depressed mood or apathy towards activities in life
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Social Phobia
Excessive self-consciousness and fear of social interactions
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Exaggerated fear and worry that happens frequently and is completely unprovoked
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Panic Disorder
Intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Intrusive and recurring thoughts (obsessions) along with hard to control repetitive behaviors (compulsions)
Medical Marijuana Iowa: Next Steps
There are currently 33 states that have legalized medical marijuana. Of those 33 states only ten: Alaska, California, Maine, Nevada, Michigan, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Colombia have legalized recreational marijuana. As mentioned already, recreational marijuana is not legal in Iowa and while the state does have medical marijuana legislature it is limited to CBD.
in 2010 the Board of Pharmacy voted 6-0 to recommend that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I classification to Schedule II. The classification of schedules come from the federal Controlled Substances Act and can be found on the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
A Schedule I drug is not allowed to be used in the U.S. medicinally. It cannot be prescribed. Schedule II drug; however, may be used medicinally and can be prescribed to patients in certain cases. Moving marijuana to Schedule II was the beginning steps toIowa medical marijuana legalization, and will hopefully lead to more serious legislation in the future.
CBD Hemp Oil Tinctures
CBD hemp oil tinctures are the go-to way to consume CBD. They are easy and straightforward and are popular because it allows users to control the amount of CBD they are intaking. Since tinctures often come with droppers that are attached to the bottle’s lid, users can easily mix CBD into food and drinks.
Medix CBD offers a wide range of easy-to-use CBD oils that come in different sizes and potency. All the oils are derived from premium hemp that is grown using organic farming techniques in the beautiful fields of Kentucky. Not only are the tinctures Medix CBD sells are made of premium hemp, but they are all THC-free, natural, gluten-free, and vegan.
CBD Edibles
For those who are not particularly interested in the tinctures, CBD edibles are a great alternative. CBD allows users to get their daily CBD intake in the most delicious forms possible. If you’re a picky eater, there is no need to worry Medix CBD has you covered.
Medix CBD offers a wide variety of gummies: edible chews, sour snakes, gummy bears, and rainbow bites, infused with different flavors like strawberry, lemon, lime, blueberry, and orange. Since edibles are so small they can easily be taken as a morning vitamin. Only 2-3 edibles are needed to get your day started right!
CBD Hemp Oil Creams
A study in the National Library of Medince, National Institute of Health cited pain one of the most frequent reasons for seeking health care and it is considered a public health problem, causing significant social burden and personal disability. It is estimated as much as 40% of the adult population suffers from some type of chronic pain around the world.
For those who do not want to ingest CBD using tinctures or gummies will find CBD creams alluring. CBD creams have been gaining traction as one of the leading medicines for pain relief since it is doesn’t require a prescription. Medix CBD carries two topicals a 150 mg cream and a 300 mg lotion that allow users to target specific pained areas of the body. The topicals both spread easily. A little bit of either will go a long way.
How to get CBD oil in Iowa
If you’re an interested CBD oil Iowa user and are wondering where to buy CBD oil in Iowa, it can be confusing to find good resources. As per the Medical Cannabidiol Act, the state of Iowa classifies CBD as “medical marijuana.” This means if you want to buy CBD in Iowa, residents need to fill out a form and have their primary doctor or care giver sign off that they have a qualifying condition.
These procedures are only for the in-state purchase of CBD. CBD products can be brought online at stores like Medix CBD with greater ease and shipped to Iowa residents as long as the products contain less than 0.3% THC. If you are an interested CBD oil Iowauser, it is recommended to buy online to save both time and money.