Three key state policymakers have varying opinions about whether to change the Iowa law that decriminalized possession of cannabis oil as treatment for chronic epilepsy. The parents of children who suffer from multiple seizures say it’s impossible to get the marijuana derivative and they’re asking lawmakers to allow the production and sale of cannabis oil in Iowa. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha, does not anticipate legislators will take that kind of action to expand last year’s bill.

“The objective of that bill was not to take parents and families that are in this situation and somehow they end up in prison for trying to take care of their family,” Paulsen says. “…That’s what it was intended to, to decriminalize possession.” Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs says the pleas of those parents will get a hearing. “It’s decriminalized, but impossible for people to access the non-intoxicating oil,” Gronstal says, “I don’t think that does much in terms of solving the problem, so if we could find a way to do some tweaks to this legislation, I’m certainly open to that.” And Governor Terry Branstad isn’t necessarily closing the door either, but he’s not embracing changes in the law.

“And I think we also need to be concerned about unintended consequences,” Branstad says. “That’s what both the medical community and law enforcement last year and I think that’s why the legislature came down where it did.” Branstad says Iowa policymakers should review similar laws that were passed last year in Utah and Alabama, plus he suggests Iowans soon may be able to legally obtain cannabis oil in Illinois.

The State of Illinois has legalized the production, sale and use of marijuana for medical purposes, but while that law took effect more than a year ago, Illinois has yet to award dispensing licenses and none of the more than six-hundred patients in Illinois who have permission to get the drug have gotten it. The parents of children with chronic epilepsy in Iowa say no other state where cannabis oil is currently sold will allow out-of-staters to buy it, plus they’d be in danger of arrest as they transport it back to Iowa through states where it is illegal.

Branstad, Gronstal and Paulsen made their comments during The Associated Press Legislative Forum yesterday (Wednesday) at the statehouse.

(Radio Iowa)

Residents of Council Bluffs have a chance to participate in a Citizen’s Police Academy, this Spring. The academy is designed to give people who live or own a business in Council Bluffs the opportunity to learn what police work is like in their community. The classes cover everything from community-oriented policing to special weapons and tactics teams and are taught by Council Bluffs police officers. The first class was held in the spring of 1992 and officials say it was a huge success.

Classes will meet Thursday night’s from 6:30-to 9-p.m., for 12 weeks, and will be held at the Southwest Iowa Law Enforcement Training Facility. Last year, participants learning about their police department, first hand. Most of the classes are designed to be hands on experiences for the participants. Many people learn about police work through television and going through an experience such as the citizen police academy can be quite rewarding. Classes may be rearranged due to staffing, scheduling, or other circumstances.

Registrations for the Spring 2015 CPA are being taken now. Register for the CPA by filling out the form available on the Council Bluffs P-D’s Facebook page, and send it to: Officer Matt Brinkman, 227 South 6th St., Council Bluffs, IA 51501. If you have any questions please feel free to call Officer Brinkman at (712) 329-1825.

Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report the arrest this (Thursday) morning, of a Nebraska woman on drug-related charges. 31-year old Sharee Rhoades,  of Omaha, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Failure to appear for unlawful possession of prescription drugs. SHe was also arrested for Fraudulent Practices in the 3rd Degree. Her total bond on both charges amounts to $12,000.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will continue their series of budget discussions Friday morning, in Greenfield. During the 9-a.m. meeting, the Board will hear FY 2016 funding requests from: The Library, MATURA, the County Engineer, and the Adair County Fair Board. They’ll also hear from representatives with Speer Financial, with regard to the TIF bond discussion, and make an appointment to the Southern Iowa Area Crime Commission (SIACC).

The Walnut City Council will hold their regular meeting this evening, beginning at 5 o’clock. On their agenda, is: A report on the Christmas Walk and Tourism; A request for changes to the City Park, including naming the baseball field  “The Harry Niemann Field”, the replacement of the existing green sign with a brick “Veterans Memorial Park” sign; a review of the fire and ambulance department budgets, and the consideration of a resolution to extend for two additional years, an agreement for fire protection between the City of Walnut, Layton Township, Lincoln Township and the Monroe Township.

The Walnut City Council will also discuss and possible act on the purchase of the Wheatley property, and hold budget discussions as well as handling various other, administrative matters.

DES MOINES, Iowa – It is completely preventable, but based on historic rates, there will be tens of thousands of babies born in the United States this year, including hundreds in Iowa, with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

The severity of the health issues related to maternal alcohol use depends on the timing and frequency of consumption, which should be not a single drop, says Stephanie Trusty, a nurse clinician with the Iowa Department of Public Health.

“Research has shown that of all the substances of abuse, including cocaine, heroin and marijuana, alcohol produces by far the most serious neuro-behavior effects in the fetus and I think that’s under recognized by the public,” she stresses.

The effects can include abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies and permanent brain damage. According to estimates from the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the disorder affects some 40,000 infants each year. Some cases happen when women drink before they realize they’ve become pregnant, while others believe it won’t harm their babies.

Then there are those mothers-to-be who struggle with addiction, and Trusty notes that alcohol abuse is a serious issue locally. “According to the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which is a survey that’s done in Iowa, 21.7 percent of adults in Iowa reported that they had done binge drinking, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 16.9 percent,” she points out.

(Iowa News Service)