(Radio Iowa) — A group of family members and supporters of people with autism plans on filing a proposal with the state’s cannabis board this week calling for access to medical marijuana for severe autism patients of all ages. The state is currently considering allowing medical marijuana treatments for some children with autism, if they have self-injuring or aggressive behaviors. Mary Roberts is the mother of two adult children with severe autism and says they should have the option of cannabis treatment, regardless of their age.  “Autism is a lifelong condition and we need to have access for patients who qualify from childhood through adulthood,” Roberts says.

She says they deserve more treatment options. “My kids for over 20 years have been on cocktails of benzodiazepines and anti-psychotics and often prescribed meds simply to counteract the side effects of other medications,” Roberts explains. “And it really becomes pretty complex and potentially compromising to their well-being.”

The state Board of Medicine is reviewing public comments on the proposal for children. They’re expected to take up that plan next month. Roberts and a group of families and advocates, plans to file their proposal for adults later this week. Sales of medical marijuana grown and produced in the state began in December.

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Children are still doing schoolwork during snow days at a district based in the northern Iowa community of Estherville. The Des Moines Register reports that Estherville Lincoln Central students are given assignments to complete at home and then connect remotely to post completed assignments or answer teacher questions. Teachers can conduct online video chats with small groups of students.

The virtual snow days are new to the district this school year, and Superintendent Tara Paul says there were complaints from students about having to work instead of play on their day off from their classrooms.
Students in kindergarten through second grade are given assignment options that can be completed without computers in case they’re not available to all students. Students in grades three through 12 have Chromebooks provided by the school, so the snow day assignments are completed on their devices.

Red Oak Police report two women were arrested, Wednesday. At around 7:30-p.m., officers took into custody 24-year old Kaylie Louise Hudson, of Red Oak, on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Her cash or surety bond was set at $2,000. And, just before 10-p.m., Red Oak Police arrested 35-year old Elysia Tylene White, of Red Oak.  White was taken into custody on a Montgomery County warrantr for failure to appear on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/1st Offense. White was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash-only bond.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that a traffic stop on Maple street in Sidney Wednesday night, lead to the arrest of two Glenwood residents. At around 7:20-p.m., Deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the K9-unit conducted a traffic stop in the 2000 block of maple street in Sidney.

During the course of the stop, Deputies located one-quarter pound of marijuana in the vehicle and numerous pieces of paraphernalia. Taken into custody, was 18-year old Logan Christopher Harding,  and 20-year old Chelsey Marie Spiegelberg, both of Glenwood. They were charged with two counts each, of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver.

Both subjects were transported to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center being held on $10,000 bond.

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