Today, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy has reclassified marijuana as a Schedule II drug. Schedule II means the drug has accepted medicinal purposes but still has a high potential for abuse. Under the old classification, marijuana was said to have no proven or acceptable medical use.
The change will classify marijuana with narcotics such as opiates and methadone.
Although the Board of Pharmacy rescheduled marijuana, members denied a petition requesting the board make rules on the use of marijuana. Chairman Vernon Benjamin says that’s the Legislature’s responsibility.
House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a Des Moines Democrat, has said lawmakers likely won’t take up the issue next year because of more pressing matters.
