Medical Marijuana Production Company Coming To Des Moines

DES MOINES, IA — By the end of 2018 a new Iowa company entering the field of medical marijuana production will be supplying cannabis products for patients with a host of illnesses. The Iowa Department of Public Health this week issued a notice of intent to award a license to MedPharm Iowa, owned by Dr. Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Kemin Industries.

MedPharm plans to operate a state-of-the-art growing and manufacturing operation at the Kemin facility in east Des Moines and will obtain intellectual property from Denver-based MedPharm Colorado, the company said. According to Iowa law, MedPharm Iowa's license will require it to begin supplying medical cannabidiol by Dec. 1, 2018.

"With the creation of MedPharm Iowa, we will use our innovative expertise and experience with scientifically sound research to assist those dealing with chronic pain, cancer, debilitating diseases and possibly help alleviate the opioid epidemic in Iowa," Nelson said in a news release.

Nelson said MedPharm Iowa will contract with Kemin for some of its services. The family-owned Kemin Industries, started in 1961, is a global manufacturer of ingredients for products ranging from animal health to human nutrition. It operates in more than 120 countries, according to its website. In addition to its headquarters in Des Moines the company operates manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Russia, Singapore and South Africa.

"The Nelson family believes the answers to the world's problems exist in nature and science, and we are determined to find those solutions with extensive research and thoughtful product development," Nelson's announcement said.

Iowa law for use of cannabis products in connection with medical conditions changed this year. Under Iowa's Medical Cannabidiol Act, possession and use of of approved marijuana products is allowed by patients who have obtained a Medical Cannabidiol Registration Card from the state for any of the following confirmed medical diagnoses: cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS or HIV, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), epilepsy or other seizure disorders, untreatable and chronic pain, or a terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than one year if the illness involves chronic pain, ongoing nausea or vomiting, or severe wasting.

Photo of medical marijuana plant by cateyz/Pixabay