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Medical marijuana bill may surface in Senate

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April 10th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal says he will sponsor a bill legalizing the sale of medical marijuana in Iowa, reviving an issue once thought dead this year. The persistent efforts of woman who have children with epilepsy changed lawmakers’ perceptions on the issue.

New policy measures cannot be raised late in the legislative session unless leaders in the House or Senate bring them up. Since Gronstal, a Democrat, will sponsor a bill its fate relies on Minority Leader Bill Dix, a Republican, to sign on too to move it forward. Dix says he will make that decision when a bill is presented to him.

Gov. Terry Branstad has talked recently with governors who have signed bills legalizing use of cannabis plant oil that isn’t smoked and doesn’t create a high.