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On a random Tuesday in Des Moines, I got approved for Iowa's medical cannabidiol program and was able to get marijuana all in under six hours.

Driving the news: I had no idea how easy it was to get medical cannabis in Iowa and I imagine most people don't as well.

Catch up fast: In 2020, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law that greatly expanded access to Iowa's medical cannabidiol program, said Lucas Nelson, the president of Bud & Mary's, formerly known as MedPharm Iowa.

What they're saying: "The accessibility has really, really improved," Nelson said.

State of play: I started by looking through the recommended clinics on Bud & Mary's site. Many offered tele-health appointments and specialized in referrals for the state's program. For $100, I made an appointment with "Green Iowa Clinic" and spoke with an advanced nurse practitioner based in Atlantic over video chat the next day.

💭 Our thought bubble: Even if the medical program is easier to access, it's important to remember the state remains one of the worst in the nation for racial disparities in marijuana arrests.

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