Democrats in Iowa Break Silence to Publicly Support Legal Cannabis

Reformation around cannabis laws is quickly gaining support in the U.S., especially among the left — prompting more Iowa Democrats to break their silence and publicly support legalization. Democratic House leader Jennifer Konfrst told the Des Moines Register the issue is "ready for prime time," especially as more neighboring states move towards legalization, including Missouri and South Dakota. If more Democrats vocalize their support, said Bradley Knott of Free the Weed Iowa, a local marijuana reform group believes it will encourage young voters to turn out, who often lean left. On Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear site, she has a page dedicated to cannabis legalization, saying she supports regulating it similarly to alcohol.

The actual chances of legalizing recreational weed right now are slim, as Gov. Kim Reynolds has said she opposes it, and there’s a Republican majority Legislature but Lucas Nelson, who owns Bud & Mary's, the state's first medical dispensary, plans on lobbying next year for expanding Iowa's medical program to allow the sale of "flower," which is the bud.