Tag: Medical marijuana

Consent Searches to Verify Medical Cannabidiol Registration Status

The Iowa Department of Public Health began issuing digital medical cannabidiol registration cards for qualified patients and caregivers.  They come complete with a QR code that may be scanned by law enforcement to verify the person’s status.  The Department advises that “law enforcement representatives may request to temporarily handle your mobile device to verify your registration card.” The drug crime lawyers at GRL recommend that you consent to a request by a peace officer to briefly handle your phone to scan the QR code verifying your status as a person who can possess medical cannabidiol.  That will likely end the […]

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THC Vape Charges Dismissed After Search of Mail Suppressed

It goes without saying that postal service investigations rarely turn out well for those who receive marijuana products by mail.  Drug dogs and search warrants will conspire to reveal the contents of suspicious packages before they reach the mailbox.  At that point, the recipients face a Hobson’s choice: either snitch on friends or cop to a felony. What can you do when neither is an option? You guessed it. You get the drug crime lawyers at GRL Law involved. Here’s an example of how we can flip the script on these mailed drug cases that don’t involve the odor of […]

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Reciprocity Defense for Medical Marijuana Results in Two Dismissals

Frequent visitors to the GRL Law Blog are no doubt familiar with our approach to defending medical marijuana charges. The drug defense lawyers recently raised this reciprocity defense in two separate cases.  The first dealt with raw cannabis flower purchased in another state with a valid medical card.  The other concerned edibles. In both cases, the court entered an order granting the defense and dismissing the charge at the state’s cost. We believe these are the first rulings of their kind in the state on the issue of reciprocity. Charged with possession of marijuana for out-of-state medical marijuana?  GRL knows […]

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Is a Pipe Considered Drug Paraphernalia if Used for Medical Marijuana?

Iowa law defines “drug paraphernalia” to include equipment used to inhale a controlled substance.  However, the definition excepts those items used in combination with the lawful use of a controlled substance. How should the law treat smoking accessories used to inhale “medical cannabidiol” or the out-of-state equivalent? We put this question to the test recently in a case in North Iowa.  The State charged our client with possession of drug paraphernalia for a marijuana pipe found in the passenger compartment of his car.  Law enforcement also uncovered cannabis flower, which our client obtained with a valid out-of-state medical card. Medical […]

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GRL Successfully Raises Medical Marijuana Reciprocity Defense to Dismiss Drug Charge

Frequent readers of our blog are certainly familiar with the firm’s reciprocity argument regarding medical marijuana.  Normally, the State concedes this issue and voluntarily dismisses the charge.  However, the Iowa State Patrol trooper involved here objected to a dismissal.  So, we had the opportunity to finally pitch our argument to the district court. Our client held a valid medical card from Missouri.  The cannabis flower seized by the trooper was medical marijuana. The court dismissed the charge and found that Chapter 124E provides reciprocity for out-of-state medical marijuana. Charged with possession of medical marijuana?  Call the drug crime lawyers at […]

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Study Finds No Association Between CBD Use and Liver Abnormalities

The medical journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research recently published an article examining the relationship between CBD and liver function. Researchers affiliated with UCLA and the University of Buffalo assessed nearly 1500 volunteers who consumed oral CBD products for a minimum of 30 days. The authors identified “no relationship between continuing to take CBD, daily dose of CBD and ALT [an enzyme found mostly in the liver] levels or change in ALT elevation severity.”  Elevated levels of the enzyme can indicate liver disease.

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Should Iowa Dispensaries Offer Smokable Cannabis?

Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program needs a boost. Marijuana extracts containing THC and CBD have been available to qualifying medical patients now for three years. The products are safe to use.  And the risk of diversion is virtually non-existent. While the program is slowly growing, it may not be fast enough to keep the doors open.  Total sales statewide this year through October total $4.9 million.  By comparison, the State of Missouri sold $24.2 million in October alone. What’s the solution? Smokable cannabis. Iowa already allows vape extracts.  We also grant reciprocity for out-of-state medical marijuana products.  So, it’s not too […]

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Iowa Medical Cannabidiol Program Data Through October 2021

December 1, 2021 marks the three year anniversary since Iowa began distributing medical cannabidiol to certified patients.  Here is some of the data for the program through October 2021: There are 1,549 certifying health practitioners.  7,323 active patient cardholders. 16,591 cumulative patient cards issued. All of this above data is trending upward, which is great for the program. Chronic pain accounts for more than 70.28% of the qualifying medical condition by active cardholders followed by PTSD at 12.60%. Vaporizable cannabidiol represents 50% of the products sold in the last year.  High THC products are preferred nearly 2:1 over high CBD […]

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Does Cannabis Legalization Help Solve More Violent Crime?

Does marijuana legalization free police to solve more serious, violent crimes? A recent study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy suggests that is true. The study looked at crime clearance rates in Oregon from 2007 to 2017.  Oregon legalized adult-use marijuana in 2014. Researches found that clearance rates improved after 2014.  Police solved more violent crimes than counterparts in prohibition states. A 2018 study examining clearance rates in Washington and Colorado found similar results. This is also consistent with studies showing overall crime rates in states that legalized marijuana either held steady or declined.  It makes sense intuitively, […]

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Plain View Observation is Not Probable Cause to Search

Do police have the right to search your car without a warrant if they see THC edibles in your center console during a traffic stop? The answer may surprise you. Suspected contraband in plain view does not necessarily provide probable cause to search the passenger compartment.  Sure, the observation alone might provide PC under the right circumstances, but it’s still the State’s burden to prove it. The drug defense attorneys at GRL Law believe PC requires more that just a plain view observation. Like furtive movements or efforts to conceal.  Or uncooperative behavior or false identification by the driver or […]

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