Iowa: Please speak out at the Board of Pharmacy hearing in Iowa City tomorrow, October 7

Tomorrow, October 7, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy will hold its third of four hearings on medical marijuana. After the hearings conclude, the Board of Pharmacy will make a recommendation to the legislature regarding the scheduling of marijuana and what further steps are necessary.

It is our job, as advocates, patients, and medical professionals, to make sure that the board knows that there is broad-based support across Iowa for allowing seriously ill patients to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

If you live near Iowa City or anywhere in eastern Iowa, please take the time to attend the hearing and share your thoughts on allowing the medical use of marijuana with the board.  Please e-mail us at NMamber@mpp.org if you plan to testify, and mention if you are a patient or medical professional.

When: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Where: University of Iowa
Bowen Science Building (3rd Floor Auditorium)
51 Newton Road
Iowa City, Iowa

What: Please offer your public comments urging the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to recognize the medical value of marijuana. Please share any personal stories or experiences that you feel comfortable sharing with the board. Each speaker is allotted 10 minutes, although you can try to request more time if you believe it will be necessary. You may request to speak at a certain time, or send in written comments via e-mail to Debbie.Jorgenson@ibpe.state.ia.us.

Here are some talking points about the medical value of marijuana in Iowa. You can also check out our research page and our effective arguments for medical marijuana advocates document for further information on the value of medical marijuana to help you prepare. Also take a look at the Iowa Board of Pharmacy site.

If you miss this hearing, there will be an additional hearing in Council Bluffs on November 4. The first two hearings, on August 19 in Des Moines and on September 2 in Mason City, went very well. Doctors and patients testified in favor of the allowing medical marijuana. Only two people spoke in opposition.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this message on to other supporters, so that they too can speak out to protect patients who could benefit from medical marijuana.