Iowa lawmakers consider allowing medical cannabis buds

Catch up fast: The bill was first proposed last year but didn't make much progress as it got lost in debates over consumable hemp regulations.

• This time around, it's already cleared a House subcommittee and is expected to move to a full committee soon. A companion bill is in the works in the Senate.

How it works: The production process for medical cannabis currently involves multiple steps — extraction, purification and formulation — which all add to costs.

• If this bill passes, Nelson says, cannabis bud would still be grown and tested, but it would skip those extra processing steps by not having to work it down to a distillate, making it more affordable.
• The only legal medical pot products in Iowa are processed items like vape oils, wax concentrates and pills.

Between the lines: The bill only allows the bud to be vaped — not smoked from pipes or bongs.

• Lawmakers have recently cracked down on pipes. In January, a new law went into effect adding a 40% tax on glass or metal "smoking devices."

The big picture: Iowa's medical cannabis program has been struggling with high prices and limited access, with just five dispensaries in the entire state.

• Patients are turning to other options, like crossing state lines or buying delta-9 products.