Iowa Proposes Allowing Out-of-State Patients to Join Medical Cannabis Program, Reduce Fees for Veterans
- Iowa health officials propose removing the residency requirement to allow qualified out-of-state residents to join the state’s medical cannabidiol program, following legislation passed earlier in 2024.
- The change is expected to primarily benefit Nebraska residents, as Nebraska lacks a medical or adult-use cannabis program, though a significant increase in patients is not anticipated.
- The proposal reinstates a reduced $25 registration fee for military veterans, aligning it with fees for patients receiving disability benefits or medical assistance, after the fee reduction was accidentally removed in 2023.
- A public hearing for the proposed rules is scheduled for September 8, with opportunities for written and oral comments until 4:30 p.m. on that day.
Iowa health officials are proposing rules that would allow qualified out-of-state residents to participate in the state’s medical cannabidiol program, implementing legislation (House File 990) approved earlier this year.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says the proposed changes would remove the program’s longstanding residency requirement, which previously limited participation to permanent Iowa residents. Under the revised rules, otherwise qualified nonresidents would be able to apply for a medical cannabidiol registration card.
Officials expect the change to have the greatest impact on Nebraska residents because Nebraska is the only state bordering Iowa that does not currently have an operational medical or adult-use cannabis program. The department said it does not expect the change to result in a major influx of new patients.
Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program currently has 17,741 registered patients and 524 caregivers. The department said qualified out-of-state residents are among those expected to benefit from the proposed rules.
The proposal would also restore a reduced registration fee for military veterans. Veterans would pay $25 for a patient registration card rather than the standard $100 fee, the same reduced rate available to certain patients receiving disability benefits or participating in medical assistance programs.
According to the department, the veterans provision had previously been included in state rules but was inadvertently removed during Iowa’s 2023 Red Tape Review process.
Officials also said expanded access could benefit smaller dispensaries located near Iowa’s borders by increasing the number of potential customers able to participate in the program.
A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for September 8 at 10 a.m. Written and oral comments will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. that day.