In 2014, the Iowa Legislature passed a bill that allowed licensed neurologists to prescribe cannabis oil products to patients suffering from epilepsy. The bill is set to expire this year, so the legislature will once again look at the legalization of cannabis oil, and one local representative is leading the charge. State Representative Jarad Klein admitted he would have been surprised if someone told him when he was elected that he’d be so involved with drug and public safety bills. However, due to a personal connection with a young constituent with epilepsy, Klein has championed the legalization of cannabis oil, which reduces the number of/severity of seizures caused by the disorder.

For those concerned with the legalization of a drug similar to marijuana, Klein would like to ease your mind. He explains, “It’s not a product that gets (you) high. It’s such a low THC oil, that if you’re trying to get to the level of high, you’ve got to ingest so much you’re going to be physically ill.” With the original bill set to expire this year, Klein says the first step is to renew that piece of legislation. After that, they’ll work on a more comprehensive medical cannabis bill, though he doesn’t believe it will be a complete legalization of medicinal marijuana in the state. For more information about the cannabis oil bill, listen to the In Touch with Southeast Iowa interview with Klein at KCIIRadio.com.