New Poll Shows Iowans Support For Legal Weed Growing Stronger

A new poll conducted for the Des Moines Register and Mediacom show Iowans' strong support for the expansion of the state's medical marijuana program. 78% of those surveyed say they would like to see more progress going forward rather than 18% who say they are opposed to any further expansion.

The poll also shows a big increase in support for legalizing recreational marijuana. A full 48% of Iowans now favor legalizing recreational marijuana, up from 39% from just a year ago.

According to the Des Moines Register, current rules require patients wanting to participate in the medical marijuana program to get a physician's certification if they have a qualifying medical condition, such as seizures, Crohn’s disease, AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, or Parkinson’s disease.

An update of current Iowa legislation could expand those laws, with a measure that would let health care providers approve use of marijuana products for any condition for which they determined it could be “medically beneficial.”

Currently about 1,200 Iowans have doctor's verification to participate in the medical marijuana program.