Plans for discussing the possibility of allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes have been rejected by the Iowa House of Representatives.

Jeff Mitchell, spokesman for the house, said the Iowa House does not want people to get the impression that this action will take place in Iowa.

He said representatives are also worried about the possibility that NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, will gain power if this issue comes about.

When asked to comment on the recent legislation which refused hearing about the medicinal uses of marijuana, NORML refused to comment.

When the citizens of Arizona and California voted in November to make marijuana legal for medicinal purposes, many states, including Iowa, decided to discuss the issue. The grounds for what is considered “medicinal purposes” for marijuana are unclear. Medical purposes include the relief from pain in such diseases as AIDS and glaucoma, as well as relief from stress. As the discussion progresses, control measures for marijuana’s medical purposes will continue to be debated.

Some students at Iowa State said they would be in support of a bill that would allow for the use of marijuana as a medicinal drug, provided that certain measures would be taken.

“It would be OK, [as long as the issue was] discussed among family members and the side effects were known,” said Julie Meyer, a speech communications major from Burnsville, Minn.

Chandra Gallt, a dietetics major from Monticello, Minn. said, “If it can be beneficial for medical reasons, yes it should be [allowed], but otherwise, no.”

Sean McLellan, an animal ecology major from Jesup, is also in favor of marijuana’s medical purposes as long as proper control measures are taken.

If this policy was approved for Iowa, there would be a possibility of some economic benefits.

Economics Professor Peter Orazem had no clue as to what size the market for the medical purposes for marijuana would be. “[Most likely] it would be a small market, and would probably be dominated by the illegal market.”

Mike Duffy, an economics-agriculture professor, said marijuana grows well as a weed in this state so there are resources in Iowa available if the market did open up.

There are other reasons for legalizing marijuana, besides just the medicinal reasons. The Iowa Farm Bureau supports a resolution which would allow officials at Iowa State to research hemp for industrial purposes. This involves using hemp to make rope, textiles, paper and many other uses.

Rick Robinson, a representative of the Iowa Farm Bureau said he is not in favor of using marijuana for medicinal purposes. “People get the two confused. Industrial hemp has no connection to medical purposes,” he said.

Although some feel that marijuana can be useful in a variety of ways, the most recent Iowa house decision may hinder the chances of a ruling for its legalization in the near future.