I'm a Republican who uses consumable hemp. Kim Reynolds should veto restrictions.

As a lifelong Republican, I was incredibly disappointed the Iowa Legislature passed House File 2605, which would cripple the consumable hemp industry in Iowa and eliminate access to nonintoxicating consumable hemp products Iowans like me use every day.

As a born-and-raised small-town Iowa kid, I have been married for 51 years and raised my family in rural Iowa. I lived a healthy lifestyle and retired at age 69.

The plan was to turn my business over to my family and then live out retirement. We then learned my wife had Alzheimer’s disease. That changed everything. Over time and with the help and support of family, support groups and friends, I’ve come to accept this is part of the journey God has set out.

The demands of caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's began to have a detrimental impact on my physical and mental health.

In 2021, I was introduced to consumable hemp as a natural health treatment option. So I researched the product and did my homework. Spent half a day at the CBD store and was amazed at the clients walking through the door. Not young people. Nearly all were senior citizens searching for answers other than prescription drugs with all the side effects. I immediately found benefits from taking this product to help with the demands of our daily life. I’ve avoided using synthetic pharmaceuticals that come with side effects that could negatively impact my health. My primary care provider told me to stay with it to avoid a prescription.

In March, I had the opportunity to talk with my state senator and other legislators, explaining how these nonintoxicating products help Iowans. My product of choice has 60 capsules per container like other packaged vitamin and supplement regimens; for me, this provides a 30-day supply. Each capsule has less than 0.5 mg of THC and 15 mg of CBD.

If this bill is signed into law, I would have to purchase four bottles of this product to get through a month. Unfortunately, this manufacturer will not create specific packaging for Iowa. If they did, it would significantly increase the price I pay. These two issues alone are reason enough to veto this bill.

It is important to know I do not get high from these products. Still, they have provided me with benefits I would have never imagined.

After talking with several legislators, I was disappointed with how little they knew about consumable hemp products and how little they understood about how their legislation would harm hundreds of thousands of Iowans.

Legislators in both chambers essentially voted to eliminate access to all full spectrum consumable products in Iowa. While these products are federally legal and available online, House File 2605 will not allow my local CBD retail store to sell the products I depend on today.

For the life of me, I do not understand why the Legislature would pass legislation to eliminate a health benefit for so many Iowans or why they would pass legislation without understanding the impact of their actions.

The only saving grace we have right now is Gov. Kim Reynolds. I hope she will veto House File 2605.

I encourage everyone to join me in asking the governor to veto this bad bill. Call or email her today to protect the health, wellness and freedoms of all Iowans.

Mike Stensland lives in Ankeny.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Kim Reynolds should veto bill restricting consumable hemp