marijuana laws Archives

Murphy Presents on Hemp Extract to Bar Association

On March 6, 2019 GRL’s own Colin Murphy presented the topic of the Legal Status of Hemp Extract in Iowa before a full room at the Webster County Bar Association’s annual March Madness CLE. Colin thoroughly explained the history of cannabis in the United States and the rise of “Refer Madness” that led to decades of prohibition against hemp. The highlight of the presentation was an in-depth explanation of the return of hemp and hemp extracts, based on the 2018 Farm Bill, and the potential legal defenses to raise in over-the-counter CBD possession offenses until such time as SF 599 […]

Class B Felony Drug Charge Amended and Time Served WIN

The Story County District Court recently sentenced our client to credit for time served and minimum fines for simple possession of a controlled substance. Originally, the state charged him with four felonies: possession with intent to deliver LSD, marijuana and tax stamp violations. The Class B felony alone was punishable by a mandatory term of imprisonment up to 25 years and a fine of up to $100,000. We were able to limit the admissibility of certain evidence and arguments that are typically used by the state in these types of cases on the issue of intent in constructive possession cases. […]

The Legal Status of Hemp Extract in Iowa (Current as of 3/20/2020)

If you are a regular visitor to the blog, then you will recall that way back in May 2019, GRL predicted that it would only be a matter of time before the state explicitly legalized hemp and cannabinoids extracted from hemp, like cannabidiol or CBD following passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. We couldn’t have been more prescient. Not long after the post published, Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 599, now known as the Iowa Hemp Act codified under Iowa Code chapter 204. That means the over-the-counter CBD is legal for retail sale, right? Not exactly. The law in Iowa […]