Iowa

Iowa Lawmakers Unveil Marijuana Legalization Bill

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2023

Iowa Lawmakers Unveil Marijuana Legalization Bill

Democratic lawmakers within the Iowa Home of Representatives on Tuesday launched laws to legalize leisure marijuana for adults. If handed into regulation, the laws would legalize the possession of hashish containing as much as 500 milligrams of THC, the first psychoactive part of marijuana, for adults aged 21 and older with legitimate identification. The invoice, which has not but been formally launched within the Home, additionally units the stage for regulated business hashish gross sales and establishes a tax on licensed marijuana gross sales.

Democratic leaders in Iowa have unveiled a plan to legalize leisure marijuana for adults.

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“We’ve listened to Iowans and heard from folks of all events in all corners of the state who strongly imagine it’s time to legalize marijuana. This common sense invoice we’re introducing right now isn’t about politics, it’s about folks,” mentioned Home Democratic Chief Jennifer Konfrst. “Our invoice is a chance this session to place partisanship apart and work collectively to get one thing completed {that a} majority of Iowans need.”

Laws Reduces Penalties For Pot Possession

The invoice additionally eliminates felony penalties for possessing as much as a half-ounce of marijuana, reclassifying such possession as a civil penalty. The measure additionally reduces different possession prices from felonies to misdemeanors and expunges felony information of nonviolent marijuana possession convictions.

The laws would permit regulated companies to provide and distribute marijuana by licensed dispensaries and duties the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division with regulating the business hashish trade. The invoice additionally requires the division to implement a seed-to-sale monitoring system to watch regulated hashish merchandise and assist forestall diversion to the illicit market.

The invoice would legalize business hashish manufacturing and gross sales and units a ten% tax on business … [+] hashish merchandise.

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The Democrats’ marijuana legalization plan units a ten% tax on business hashish merchandise, with income devoted to colleges, psychological well being providers and native public security companies. Moreover, counties can be permitted to levy a further 1% surcharge on state and native taxes.

Konfrst mentioned that legalizing marijuana in Iowa would maintain hashish tax income in Iowa as an alternative of sending it to neighboring states with authorized pot. Each Illinois and Michigan have legalized leisure marijuana.

Majority Of Iowans Help Legalizing Marijuana

The Home Democratic Chief famous that there’s robust assist for marijuana legalization in Iowa. In a 2021 Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Ballot, 54% of adults mentioned that they have been in favor of legalizing leisure marijuana.

“It’s throughout celebration strains,” mentioned Konfrst. “It’s throughout the place the place you reside within the state: rural, city and suburban. And it’s time to do that.”

“With robust assist from Iowans and neighboring states which have already accepted, it’s time to legalize marijuana for grownup use,” mentioned Home Minority Whip Rep. Lindsay James of Dubuque. “The great invoice we’re introducing right now will maintain Iowans secure, cease our tax {dollars} from going to neighboring states, enhance the standard of life for Iowans affected by persistent sicknesses and cease losing state sources to unfairly punish Iowans.”

Though marijuana legalization is supported by a majority of Iowans, the invoice is unlikely to be accepted the state’s Republican-led legislature. Final month, GOP celebration leaders mentioned they don’t anticipate marijuana legalization payments to advance this yr.

“I believe there must be a deterrent within the regulation, however I perceive the logic of getting discussions about what the suitable penalties must be and that type of factor,” Republican Rep. Steven Holt, the chair of the Home Judiciary Committee, mentioned final yr. “However by way of making marijuana authorized, that’s one thing I’d by no means assist.”

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Iowa

Iowa Hawkeyes Connected to Overwhelming Bowl Expectation

Published

3 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Iowa Hawkeyes Connected to Overwhelming Bowl Expectation

Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to take care of business on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins. Now, they head into their final game of the regular season this coming Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a 7-4 record.

Iowa will be headed to a bowl game following their game against Nebraska. However, the real question ends up being, which bowl game will they play in?

At this point in time, the Hawkeyes seem to be trending towards playing in one bowl game in particular.

Here are a few of the bowl game projections that have been put out there by analysts:

Obviously, the ReliaQuest Bowl seems to be the clear favorite when it comes to what game Iowa will play in.

Looking at some of the matchups that have been suggested, there is the potential for a very entertaining game.

Going up against Ole Miss, South Carolina, or Alabama would be a very difficult test for the Hawkeyes. Any of those three games would give them a great test to end the 2024 season.

There is still one game that needs to be played. A win over the Cornhuskers would have them ending their season at 8-4. After that game, it will be a wait and see approach as to which bowl game Iowa will play.

All of that being said, seeing this projections should bring excitement to the Hawkeyes’ fan base. None of them would be easy games, but the matchups would give Iowa a chance to end the season with a major upset and to head into the offseason on a high note.

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Iowa

SYC: Iowa Big project focuses on helping unsheltered

Published

11 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

SYC: Iowa Big project focuses on helping unsheltered

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A group of Cedar Rapids High School students are making sure people without a home have the essentials this winter.

Gavin Cornwell and his team of Iowa Big students filled 100 bags this week with a little bit of everything.

“We have some fruit roll-ups, some gushers, and a granola bar,” said Cornwell.

For this team, it’s more than just a class. Once done, the bags will go to the unsheltered population living at the winter overflow homeless shelter.

“People really don’t understand, everyone has their own story,” said Cornwell.

These care packages will go to each person who stays at the low-barrier shelter this winter.

“We kind of grabbed the basic necessities to include in these care packages to give them some cheer this holiday season,” he said.

The homeless population in Linn County grew by more than 40% in 2024. Denine Rushing oversees operations at the overflow shelter and said the bags provide items that those who sleep at the shelter might not otherwise get.

“Being able to have these bags that they can just throw in their backpacks or in a bag or just carry with them and utilize throughout the day,” said Rushing. “I think it is going to be really helpful for people.”

Rushing expected to see more people utilize the shelter this year, especially during snow events and bitter cold temperatures.

“You really have to kind of have things on the go, things that you can kind of just grab and take with you while you are out and about throughout the day,” said Rushing.

Cornwell said they planned to hand the bags out this Monday at the shelter. A place this Prairie High School senior is now closer to, a place that was more visible thanks to this school-based project.

“You might drive by and you might see somebody experiencing homelessness but you don’t really know what they’re experiencing,” said Cornwell.

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Iowa

Iowa State women get back on track, hold off in-state rival Drake

Published

19 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Iowa State women get back on track, hold off in-state rival Drake

Returning to Hilton Coliseum was just what the Iowa State women needed, as the eighth-ranked Cyclones held off Drake Sunday afternoon in Ames, 80-78.

Returning sophomore standout Audi Crooks had the game-winning bucket with just :00.3 seconds left in the game, finishing off a 33-point effort to lead Iowa State (5-1).

Crooks, a preseason honorable mention All-American, added four rebounds to her night while shooting 15 of 25 from the field.

Emily Ryan had a double-double, scoring 11 points while dishing out 12 assists. Addy Brown added 13 points and Mackenzie Hare chipped in 10. Brown led the team with eight rebounds while Ryan had six with two steals.

Arianna Jackson had three steals and no turnovers in almost 31 minutes of action.

For Drake, another former Iowa prep standout put up a big number vs. the Cyclones, as Katie Dinnebier knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored a game-high 39 points. Anna Miller had 18 with eight rebounds, as Dinnebier also had five rebounds, two steals and two assists.

The win marked the 300th non-conference victory for Iowa State under Bill Fennelly all-time, as he improved to 616-314 with the Cyclones and 782-367 overall in his coaching career.

Iowa State added to its NCAA-record streak for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer, stretching it to 933 straight.

Up next for the Cyclones will be defending national champion South Carolina on Thanksgiving at 12:30 p.m. on FOX. The Gamecocks had their 43-game win streak snapped with a 77-62 loss in Los Angeles.

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