Iowa Cannabidiol Board stories that by the tip of December 2022, the state had collected $10.2 million in gross sales by 5 dispensaries. In August alone, the state had hit the $1 million mark in a single month for the primary time and stored the sample going all through the remainder of the 12 months. For comparability, gross sales in December 2021 hit $587,000.
In response to the Des Moines Register, the variety of sufferers has elevated considerably as properly. In December 2021, the Iowa cardholder quantity reached 7,800, however by November 2022 the variety of cardholders hit 15,000. Presently, the state lists 51.1% of sufferers as male, 48.5% as feminine, and 0.4% as non-binary.
Presently, most of Iowa medical cannabis patients reside in Polk County, which can be the situation of the state capital with 5,112 sufferers, adopted by Linn County (833 sufferers), Black Hawk County (670), Woodbury County (645), and Johnson County (612).
The state’s variety of caregivers, or individuals who help sufferers which are “too ailing, immobilized or in any other case unable to go to a dispensary,” has risen as properly. Caregiver playing cards additionally elevated, with 2,300 registered caregivers in December 2021, and three,000 in November 2022.
The highest situation that sufferers have registered for contains persistent ache, with an estimated 10,000 people, adopted by post-traumatic costume dysfunction with roughly 2,800 cardholders. For the reason that state’s medical hashish program launched in November 2018, it has issued greater than 32,000 medical hashish playing cards.
The Des Moines Register additionally stories that as of November 2022, 1,920 well being care professionals (outlined as both a doctor, doctor assistant, superior registered nurse practitioner, or podiatrist) have “signed off” on a minimum of one affected person utilizing hashish to deal with their situation (in comparison with solely 300 well being care practitioners in December 2021).
When it comes to merchandise bought, “vaporizable” merchandise are the most well-liked at 66.4%, adopted by capsules/tablets (24.6%), tinctures (6.4%), and topicals (2.5%). Roughly 77.9% of sufferers select merchandise with excessive THC, 13.2% desire a balanced ratio of THC to CBD, and eight.9% select excessive CBD.
A big majority of sufferers affected by circumstances similar to AIDS/HIV, ALS, Crohn’s illness, seizures, and ulcerative colitis selected excessive THC merchandise. The one exception is an excellent cut up for individuals who endure from Parkinson’s illness (37% desire THC/CBD merchandise, and 38% desire excessive THC merchandise).
Whereas medical hashish is flourishing in Iowa, efforts to legalize adult-use hashish haven’t yielded outcomes. Earlier final 12 months, Iowan advocates from the Marketing campaign for Smart Hashish Legal guidelines launched an effort to legalize hashish. “Hashish reform is sweeping the nation. From ruby purple South Dakota and Montana to perpetually blue New York and New Jersey, majorities from throughout the political spectrum are voting for reform. In some states it’s a stronger medical program,” stated marketing campaign founder Bradley Knott. “In different states voters have gone all in for each medical and leisure hashish. In Iowa, we don’t have a selection. We don’t also have a voice.”
In September 2022, Iowa Libertarian governor candidate Rick Stewart known as out fellow candidate Republican Kim Reynolds (who later gained as governor in November) on her opposition to authorized hashish. “What the hell, Kim?” Stewart stated in a video. “Right here I’m in Illinois—why, only some miles from the Iowa border—they usually’ve obtained authorized hashish.”
He described the stark distinction between the legal guidelines between the 2 states whereas standing in entrance of a bridge that connects Iowa to Illinois. “If I purchase weed on this aspect of the bridge, I’m shopping for it from a criminal. If I purchase weed on that aspect of the bridge, I’m shopping for it from a good enterprise particular person,” Stewart stated.
Iowa’s southern neighbor of Missouri not too long ago has an adult-use hashish program that went dwell in December 2022 as properly.