The potential legalization of marijuana has sparked much debate all across America recently.

Everywhere in America, that is, except in the Iowa House.

In what could be considered the most ill-advised of decisions, the Iowa House decided to not include discussion of the legalization of medicinal marijuana on its agenda.

With the resurgence of interest in the legalization of marijuana, it is disappointing that the Iowa House would not donate its time and effort to debating the merits and debits of legalizing marijuana.

To its credit, the House did debate whether to put the issue on the agenda. So they talked about talking about the issue. Guess that’s a start.

Considering the interest this debate has generated, it would only be common sense for the Iowa House to begin formulating opinions on how it feels about each issue.

Apparently, some members of the House were reluctant to put the issue on the agenda because they did not want to discuss the legalization of drugs.

Considering the vast differences in the three major types of marijuana use, it seems the House is passing up an excellent opportunity to “set the record straight” on the different types of uses and the viability of all of them.

There are many myths, misconceptions, fallacies and facts about marijuana and its uses. The issue of marijuana as a recreational drug, as a medicinal element or its industrial uses are three separate topics.

To squash debate on a subject, any subject, is reductive to a free and democratic society. Regardless of one’s position on this and any other issue, productive debate and dialogue only serve to improve and inform society.