Iowa medical marijuana bill blocked by two senators; urge Senate committee to hold hearing

Last year, despite the efforts of activists from around the state, Sen. Joe Bolkcom’s (D-Iowa City) medical marijuana bill, S.F. 64, was blocked from a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee by co-chairs David Miller (R-Fairfield) and Keith Kreiman (D-Bloomfield). The legislative session ended with the committee failing to take action. As the legislature convenes this week for the 2006 legislative session, MPP is determined that this year will bring different results.

The legislature’s indifference to seriously ill patients in Iowa is unacceptable. We need you to speak out for patients today and demand that the committee take action this year.

Please take action today by urging Sens. Miller and Kreiman to hold a hearing on this bill. This link will take you to letters that our automated system will send to the senators for you. The whole process only takes three minutes. State legislators truly do listen to their constituents. By expressing your disappointment with the legislature’s inaction in the face of overwhelming scientific and popular support for medical marijuana, you can help move this important issue forward.

After you have e-mailed the senators, follow up by calling them. You can reach them at:

Senator Miller – 515-281-3371 or 641-472-5049

Senator Kreiman – 515-281-3371 or 515-210-0560

Please contact them. Senator Bolkcom’s courageous bill will protect patients who use medical marijuana from arrest and prison. It is time for Iowa to join the 11 sensible, compassionate states that have already enacted medical marijuana legislation. Polls consistently show massive public support for this issue. Clearly, supporting medical marijuana is not only an act of compassion; it is also a popular political move.

Please take action today.

If you would like more information or would like to find out how you can get involved, please contact Jonas Singer at 202-462-5747 ext. 125 or JSinger@mpp.org.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message on to your friends and family around the state so that even more voices for reform can be heard.