State briefs: Iowa eyes Minnesota medical marijuana

Iowa and Minnesota lawmakers are working on a plan that would allow patients from Iowa to buy medical marijuana from Minnesota.

Iowans can legally use one type of cannabis extract — as long as the oils are low in the THC compound that gives marijuana its buzz — but right now there is nowhere in the state where patients can legally buy the product. Minnesota, on the other hand, has ample supplies of cannabis oils and extracts, but a relatively tiny number of enrolled patients.

With Iowa's Legislature set to adjourn in a matter of days, Minnesota Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, said, "They're approaching us about whether it would make sense for their citizens to be able to access resources in our state." One of Minnesota's three medical marijuana clinics is located in Rochester, just north of the Iowa border.

Right now, Minnesota's program is open only to its residents. Twenty-four states have medical marijuana programs and a few are open to nonresidents. But it remains to be seen how federal regulators react to a plan that calls for patients to regularly cross state borders with a federally banned substance.

Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn said lawmakers will work in coming days to explore "what's within the realm of the possible."

As of Friday, there were 1,275 patients enrolled with Minnesota's Office of Medical Cannabis. Five more clinics will open around the state in the next few months, in Moorhead, Hibbing, St. Cloud, Bloomington and St. Paul.

Minnesota's program will expand to admit pain patients in August.

Jennifer Brooks @stribrooks

Two finalists have been named as candidates for Duluth police chief to replace Gordon Ramsay, who left earlier this year to become chief in Wichita, Kan.

A community review panel selected Mike Tusken, currently interim chief, and Brian Kozak, a Duluth native now serving as the police chief in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Duluth Mayor Emily Larson is expected to make her choice the first week of May to send to the City Council for approval.

Mark Brunswick @markabrunswick

The head of the St. Cloud Veterans Affairs Health Care system is calling it quits after a 40-year federal career.

Barry Bahl said he plans to retire June 3.

Initially serving as the acting health care system director beginning in June 1996, Bahl was appointed as health care system director in 1999.

The St. Cloud VA serves a 27-county area in central and west central Minnesota and includes the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud and three VA clinics located in Brainerd, Montevideo and Alexandria. It treated 38,603 veterans last year. The St. Cloud VA employs 1,741 employees and has a total budget of $272 million for this fiscal year.

Mark Brunswick @markabrunswick