The Iowa House should be discussing the decriminalization of cannabidiol, an oil from marijuana that can aid those with severe epilepsy and seizures, April 30. The bill to decriminalize this form of medical marijuana has already passed the Senate floor and has been approved by the House Public Safety Committee. If it passes the House, it must once again hop back to the Senate for more discussion since three amendments have already been added to the bill.

There is no argument that these are very positive steps forward for legalizing medical uses of marijuana. However, there still seems to be a lot of misunderstanding from members of the Iowa legislature as the bill continues forward. One of the main concerns that is repeatedly brought forward is that decriminalizing cannabidiol could lead to further abuse of currently illegal marijuana, even though the bill would require those who are applicable to using it to obtain a state-issued ID card.

Several other states, including Utah, Georgia and Wisconsin, have seen bills involving the decriminalization of cannabidiol for medical purposes. Wisconsin is one state that has effectively signed the bill into law.

Cannabidiol, which comes from the marijuana plant and is also known as CBD, does not produce the high often associated with marijuana. This is because cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive product of marijuana that is low in tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]. To break this down simply, the drug won’t really offer the high marijuana users are looking for, leaving the possibility of abuse very low. The oil has been proven to have healthful benefits for people, including children, who suffer from severe seizures and epilepsy that do not have many other treatment options. 

The benefits in this situation far outweigh the possibilities for abuse. This a subject that the Daily Editorial Board has previously written on, mostly due to the absurdity that a substance that could have so many benefits for those suffering is being slowed by political ignorance and a fear of a questionably illegal drug to begin with. 

There are currently 20 states that have already legalized the use of medical marijuana, and two states — Colorado and Washington — have completely legalized marijuana.

The Senate and House seemed to be heading toward the correct decision of changing the lives of many children currently suffering from seizures for the better. After that the only thing standing in the bills way is the signature of Gov. Terry Branstad, hopefully a signature that will be easy for him to write.

Unfortunately, even if the cannabidiol is legalized in Iowa for medical use, the families that need this will have to find it outside of the state. According to the Des Moines Register, even with the passage of the current bill cannabidiol cannot be legally sold or produced within the state.

The underlying questions of whether marijuana as a whole should be legal is a different matter entirely. The only thing that should be on the forefront of this discussion is why something with so many benefits has been unobtainable for those who truly need it for so long. As anyone who has ever taken medicine will tell you, not all drugs are bad. Education is key to making the right decisions, not fearing arguments that hold no merit in the discussion to begin with.