A group of 15 lawmakers in Iowa filed House File 2206 today, a wide-ranging proposal that would legalize adult-use marijuana, establish a regulated retail system, and automatically expunge certain past convictions tied to marijuana offenses.
The measure was introduced by Representatives Ako Abdul-Samad Amos Jr., Elizabeth Wichtendahl, Timi Brown-Powers Gaines, Adam Zabner Levin, Eric Madison, Austin McBurney, Sami Scheetz Ramirez, Jerome Amos Gosa, Ross Wilburn Wilson, Lindsay James Scholten, Aime Wichtendahl Kressig, Kenan Judge Wilburn, R. Johnson, Josh Turek Kurth, and Megan Srinivas Wessel-Kroeschell. All 15 sponsors are Democrats.
The bill would create a new chapter of Iowa law specifically governing marijuana, separating it from broader controlled substance statutes and establishing clear possession thresholds and penalties. Under the proposal, the personal possession of cannabis would be legal for adult 21 and over. The legislation also includes provisions for automatic expungement of certain prior marijuana convictions and allows individuals previously convicted of marijuana felonies to petition the court for record clearing.
House File 2206 would also create a full retail marijuana licensing system overseen by the Department of Revenue, including licenses for retail stores, cultivation facilities, product manufacturers, and transporters. Retail sales would be limited to adults 21 and older, with strict packaging, labeling, testing, and tracking requirements from seed to sale. The bill caps purchases in a single transaction at 30 grams of flower or 500 milligrams of THC in infused products and limits personal possession to five ounces.
Local counties would have the authority to regulate, limit, or prohibit retail marijuana establishments, and voters could force a ballot question on the issue through petition. The proposal also restricts where stores can operate, including buffer zones around schools, parks, and child care facilities.
The measure establishes a 10% marijuana excise tax, with revenues directed into three dedicated funds: 35% for scholarships for Iowa students, 32.5% for mental health and substance use disorder prevention, and 32.5% for local public safety agencies.
Additional provisions address marijuana use in vehicles, establish a THC blood threshold for impaired driving, protect tenants from discrimination for lawful use, and prohibit employment or licensing penalties based solely on legal marijuana activity.
If enacted, the bill would allow applications for retail marijuana licenses beginning July 1, 2027, with state agencies required to develop rules for the system within one year of the law taking effect.
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