Iowa is one of the few states in America that has banned delta 8 THC. Although the Farm Bill made hemp federally legal and lets even intoxicating hemp derived cannabinoids exist within a legal loophole, Iowa state regulators have acted against the substance. Law enforcement is highly likely to consider delta 8 THC an illegal substance until further notice.

The Iowa State Attorney General has decided to interpret existing law to make delta 8 THC illegal. Specific legislation with delta 8 THC mentioned by name has not passed, but that doesn’t matter. Overall, state laws and Iowa’s own regulations make delta 8 THC illegal.

Existing law states that nearly every part of the marijuana plant is illegal. CBD is legal but heavily regulated in the state.

Is Delta 8 Legal in Iowa?

No, delta 8 in Iowa is illegal, despite it being legal at a federal level. While no specific laws mention delta 8 THC by exact name or molecular structure, regulators have interpreted delta 8 THC as unlawful. This decision contrasts against the federal government, which has not taken explicit action against hemp derived compounds and other derivatives.

Nearly every part and derivative of the marijuana plant is considered illegal in Iowa. This includes CBD and hemp derived delta 8 THC products, according to Iowa state code §124.101 subsections 20.

Another law clarifies that certain marijuana-derived products could be legal, but only if they have express state approval. Typically, this is only for medical reasons.

However, the Iowa Attorney General has clarified that CBD is legal in the state under the 2018 Farm Bill, provided it’s sourced from industrial hemp and contains no more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis. Iowa has one of the strictest CBD laws. They require that consumers register for an mCBD card and purchase CBD at registered hemp dispensaries.

It may have seemed that CBD and other hemp products were wholly unregulated in Iowa, but enforcement action has clearly been against it. Law enforcement has conducted raids against CBD stores and retail stores that sell such products. It’s likely police would act similarly against delta 8 THC, especially considering the substance is clearly defined as a marijuana-derived product by the state.

Where to Buy Delta 8 THC in Iowa

While you can’t (and shouldn’t) buy delta 8 THC in Iowa — here’s how it’s done in many states that legalized hemp derivatives like delta 8 THC and other cannabinoids for the sake of being thorough.

When buying in states that allow delta 8 THC, the best source is straight from a manufacturer.

In unregulated states, retailers such as smoke shops and convenience stores do not need any licensing to sell delta 8 THC. Manufacturers, however, do need to adhere to strict local and federal standards for harvesting hemp products. Hemp producers must submit third-party lab tests on all crops to verify it does not contain too much delta 9 THC.

Further, manufacturers’ livelihoods and reputations are on the line. Instead of purchasing from stores without any quality control, it’s best to buy directly from the farm online. Verified lab tests will ensure the contents of a product are safe and legal. This also cuts out the risk of adulteration in the name of profits that smoke shops and gas stations can easily do.

The benefits of ordering delta 8 THC online:

• Online shops have better pricing and seasonal discounts
• When you buy online, you can read customer reviews & third-party tests before you buy
• Ordering online is easier and more convenient
• Online shops have a greater selection of products
• Products left on store shelves degrade more quickly

Do I Need A Medical Card in Iowa To Order Delta 8 THC?

Delta 8 THC cannot be obtained with or without a medical card in Iowa. Retailers selling the intoxicating hemp based THC products are subject to police enforcement. In the past, police have raided shops just for selling CBD.

There are, however, laws that have enacted some forms of medical marijuana. To obtain CBD products and certain THC products in Iowa, one must first be diagnosed with a qualifying condition. Their doctor can then write prescriptions for dosages of state-approved marijuana products.

Overall, those seeking medical benefits from cannabis products can do so through a process outlined by the Iowa Department of Public Health. They will need to fill out some paperwork and gain approval from a healthcare practitioner.

Patients must be over 18 and qualify. Typically, doctors will dispense only small amounts of THC to patients. Only non-smokable forms of THC are allowed.

Delta 8 Vapes & The PACT Act

In the United States, vape product vendors must register with authorities and verify the age of buyers. This is closely regulated and enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Those who do not verify age violate federal law in numerous ways.

Mainly, they are violating the PACT Act. Congress passed this law initially to cut down on tobacco trafficking. The law has since been revised to include vape products. The addition of vape products was meant to address the vaping epidemic in America. Part of this was mandating the tracking and age verification of all online vape sales.

A law passed in 2019 further adjusted regulations by mandating stores cannot sell vape products, nicotine, and other tobacco products to anyone under 21 years old.

A reputable online vendor of inhalable hemp products, vape, CBD, or alternative THC products will closely adhere to these laws. Their reputation is at stake, and not adhering is a clear red flag of possibly fishy operations or dangerous manufacturing processes. Consumers should altogether avoid vendors not willing to follow these laws.

While online may seem like the best way to purchase CBD and alternative THC products, those in Iowa should not do it. Possession of these products is illegal.

What’s The Difference Between Delta 8 THC & Delta 9 THC?

Delta 8 THC and delta 9 THC are compounds that produce psychoactive and therapeutic effects when they activate the endocannabinoid system. They’re closely related yet different in one critical way. 

These cannabinoids may have the same chemical structure, but the location of their double bond differs, which influences their potency levels. Delta 9 has the double bond on its ninth carbon chain, while delta 8 has it on the eighth carbon chain.

Delta 8 THC is one of the delta 9 THC isomers and a much weaker form of its counterpart. Its effects are much less psychoactive and overall diminished compared to delta 9 THC. Delta 8 is also known for its calming and relaxing effects. Both molecules bind to the same cannabinoid receptors in the brain, but delta 9 THC does so at a higher efficiency.

Although they affect the brain in the same method, neither do so at the same level. Delta 8 THC will more quickly stop interacting with the brain’s neuroreceptors, and the messages they send will be weaker.

Is Delta 8 THC Natural?

Delta 8 THC is a compound that occurs naturally within the hemp and marijuana plants, unlike synthetic cannabinoids that are man-made and can’t be found in nature. However, the plant produces only small amounts of delta 8, so to increase production, we convert CBD sourced from hemp into delta 8.

For many, the word natural will spark images of prairies, farmland, and minimal human intervention. In the United States, though, the expression is hardly regulated. Nearly anyone can slap a natural label on a product and ship it without proving a thing.

This is because the FDA has yet to regulate the word. Although terms such as “organic” are heavily vetted and regulated by the FDA, “natural” remains on the sidelines.

Consumers should give no weight to the word natural on products. Even a product made wholly in a laboratory without plant products can be called “natural.”

This is possibly why the DEA has not cracked down on delta 8 THC and other hemp derived products containing psychoactive compounds. Since there are federal regulatory gaps on the term natural, delta 8 THC can easily be considered a natural product. Although some lab work is necessary, the product is still derived from plants. This could be a part of any enforcement delays.

How to Use Delta 8 THC?

Delta 8 THC can be used in a variety of forms. CBD and THC products sold for medical reasons in Iowa cannot, however, be smokable forms of cannabis. Those who have a medical card in Iowa can purchase various products with different THC to CBD ratios. For more extreme cases, THC content is higher. A patient’s doctor will decide the best dosage and consumption practices case by case.

Edibles and tinctures are commonly how medical marijuana and CBD are dispensed in the state. Products include those for skin application, nebulization/vaping, and even suppositories 😳.

In other states where delta 8 THC is available, there are more methods to consume. Cartridges containing concentrated delta 8 THC oils are popular, but gummy candies and even marijuana flower is available. Frequently, these products are created by mixing in activated delta 8 THC oil.

Is Marijuana (Delta 9 THC) Legal In Iowa?

Iowa has resisted changing its cannabis and hemp laws dozens of times in the past several years. As more states around it move to legalize, Iowa holds firm. Marijuana is not legal in Iowa. Even CBD was banned until very recently when the state officially recognized consumable hemp products as separate from marijuana, which remains in the state’s controlled substances list.

Related: Where is marijuana legal in the United States?

Is Delta 10 THC Legal in Iowa?

Delta 10 THC is also illegal in Iowa. This is also another THC isomer, but its double bond is found on its tenth carbon chain. The substance is subject to the same laws as delta 8 THC. Because the substance is directly derived from the hemp plant in some way, Iowa would be quick to consider it an illegal marijuana derivative.

Federal law may neglect to clarify rules around these new THC forms fully, but Iowa’s laws are apparent. Both are illegal and will be enforced as contraband. Iowa considers almost all hemp derived THC and other derivatives illegal unless expressly allowed. 

Iowa law is very particular in how it regulates all parts of the cannabis plant. Both delta 8 and delta 10 THC are no doubt considered illegal under these laws.

Final Thoughts: What’s The Future of Delta 8 THC in Iowa?

While many states have made delta 8 and even adult use marijuana legal, delta 8 THC will likely remain illegal in Iowa for a while. The state has some of the most sweeping cannabis laws, and regulators are very clear on what can and cannot exist in the state. Although medical marijuana is being adopted to some extent, further legalization may simply not occur anytime soon.

Iowa tends to take FDA and medical approval very seriously. Laws dictate this is necessary for any marijuana derivative to be legal in the state. Until the FDA approves more products or the state’s medical boards determine new products to be beneficial, most cannabis will remain illegal.

FAQs on Delta 8 and Other Cannabinoids in Iowa

Want to know more about the legality of delta 8 and other cannabinoids in Iowa? Then check out the short list of FAQs below.

1. Is Delta 8 Illegal in Iowa?

Delta 8 is illegal in Iowa. You won’t find delta 8 in physical stores, nor can you have it shipped to your location.

It’s also illegal to cross state lines with delta 8 products into Iowa.

2. Is Delta 9 Illegal in Iowa?

Delta 9 THC sourced from hemp is legal, as long as its concentration doesn’t go over 0.3% on a dry weight basis.

Marijuana-derived delta 9 THC is also legal, but only available to patients enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program. Registered patients are limited to only 4.5 g of THC per 90 days.

3. Is CBD Illegal in Iowa?

Hemp-sourced CBD is legal in Iowa, provided the product contains no more than 0.3% THC.

CBD derived from marijuana is also legal, but only patients enrolled in Iowa’s medical marijuana program are allowed to use such products.

4. Is HHC Illegal in Iowa?

HHC is illegal in Iowa, similar to delta 8 and delta 10. Other illegal psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp include THCP and THCO.

5. Is THCA Still Legal in Iowa?

THCA is legal but with restrictions. It should be derived from hemp with the total THC and THCA level not exceeding 0.3%, and it should not come in an inhalable or smokable format.