DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s medical cannabis oil program has cost the state more than $100,000 to create and issue registration cards to about 50 people.
The Iowa Department of Transportation last fall asked Massachusetts-based MorphoTrust USA to design and create the cards, which was approved last year by the state Legislature.
The oil is derived from the cannabis plant but has little of the THC ingredient known to give a person a “high.”
According to documents obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request, MorphoTrust USA billed the Transportation Department $115,000 for its work. It was paid for through the state general fund.
Agency spokeswoman Melissa Spiegel said the cost was reasonable based on similar work on other cards.
The card program has faced criticism that it’s cumbersome and largely useless.
